Joy

The Joy of the Lord is strength.

For too many days my husband and I have felt sick to the pit of our souls at the thought of Jason going to prison for the next two years. Something in my heart turned a corner this afternoon.

Ray and I were driving to court when this feeling swept over me. I wanted to start laughing. I wondered if this was what if felt like to “loose it”

Joy, tangible rejoicing, a physical feeling of a spiritual reality unlike anything I have EVER experienced before. I was just a little bit worried about feeling like that when my son might be going to prison.

I told Ray what I was feeling, all the while grinning like Christmas morning. He wished he could feel it so I spontaneously reached over and put my hand on his shoulder. “What are you doing?” he asked. I told him that I was trying to share whatever it was, we both were laughing, praying, praising.

Jason was given a firm warning to be careful about compliance details and sent back to his life. The judge reminded him that last month he intended to send him to prison but something changed his mind.Tears. Joy. Laughter.

Thank you for praying. Thank you to the believers that Jason works with who prayed. Thank you for your notes to the probation officer, the phone calls from the people who are allowed to call her and tell of the positive changes you have seen in him. And a special thanks to Rich and Val who have prayed with us for such a LONG time. We will never be able to fully describe just what you have meant to us in the last two years. Thank you Tom and Barb. I know you know. And Susan, all the love you have spent on me is treasured in my heart. I could feel your prayers this afternoon and I am grateful.