Bouncy House

Bouncy house. My son had a birthday party he was invited to today for a friend of his he plays soccer with. The party was in an auxiliary gym at a church by our house and when we got to the church there was a bouncy house set up for the kids to play in. My little guy had never been in one before because he had been too intimidated by the amount of kids that were in them other places we had been that had one. But today there was a smaller number of kids that were his size and he tried it for the first time.

He loved it. He jumped in there and then slid down the slide for the longest time. When the other kids stopped to play other games, he stayed right in there and had the whole bouncy house to himself. When it was time to go, some tears were shed as he had to get out of the bouncy house. I had to assure him that there would be another bouncy house somewhere in his future.

The joy he had today was clearly evident as he bounced and bounced and bounced his little heart out. It’s was a joy that he had never experienced before today. It was a joy that we as adults sometimes long for, but we are too old and weigh too much to find it in a bouncy house. That doesn’t stop us from looking for joy in the things of this world. But with every new experience, the joy we thought we’d find, disappears like a vapor and we are left looking for joy in the next experience.

The Bible tells us that our joy is not found in the things of this world, but only in Christ Jesus. “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” - 1 Peter 1:8-9.

Joy is different from happiness. Happiness is based upon current happenings, but joy is a feeling that is not dependent on the things that are happening in our lives. Joy is based upon the knowledge of know where our future lies, in Christ.

Have a great day and God bless.