Splashes of Joy From Life’s Simple Pleasures

Spending the past week on a houseboat with my kids and grandkids brought countless splashes of joy from life’s simple pleasures. Here are ten examples:

• Waking to the view of a pristine mountain lake
• Reading stories to the grands 
• Taking a paddleboard ride with a chatty six-year-old 
• Roasting marshmallows on the beach
• Seeing schools of fish swim past
• Celebrating three birthdays in six days
• Playing board games
• Hearing the older grandkids hoot and holler as they slipped down the houseboat’s slide into the lake
• Hearing those same grands hoot and holler as they watched me slip down the slide into the lake (a grandma will do almost anything for her grandkiddos, right?)
• Viewing the sun set behind the mountains, its hues reflected on the lake’s ripples

“It’s the little things that make happy moments, not the grand events,” says author Rick Warren. “Joy comes in sips, not gulps.” 

Hindrances to experiencing splashes of joy from life’s simple pleasures

You and I know that life brings challenges of every description. Worry, fear, and the weight of the burdens we bear can sometimes consume us. Surviving our circumstances becomes our focus, and we lose sight of life’s little pleasures.

Busyness can cloud our vision, too. Juggling various responsibilities—especially when we’ve said yes too many times—saps our strength. Running from one activity to the next leaves us parched and dry.

Our heart condition also impacts our ability to find joy in life’s simple pleasures. Harboring anger and unforgiveness, viewing ourselves as victims, and seeing life through a pessimistic lens—all of these contribute to joylessness. So, what can we do to turn things around?

3 ways to experience splashes of joys from life’s simple pleasures

• Practice gratitude

Gratitude affects the brain in positive ways, so cultivate an attitude of gratitude for things often taken forgranted: safe drinking water, a variety of food on grocery store shelves, physical mobility, eyes to see God’s handiwork, ears to hear music and laughter and songbirds, God’s presence that never leaves us, and His promises that never fail us.

Keep a gratitude journal. Start by recording even seemingly insignificant things (ie: a fresh cup of coffee in the morning). List three to five things each day. Later, rereading your notes about the things that brought joy will stir memories and bring joy again. 

• Allow the Holy Spirit’s control

One of the fruits of the Holy Spirit’s presence and control in our lives is joy. When He occupies us, there’s no vacancy for grumbling, self-pity, anger, and unforgiveness. Let’s invite Him to fill us every day, and He will open our eyes to see the countless blessings that belong to those who belong to Jesus.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! (Galatians 5:22-23 NLT)

• Slow down

We don’t need to spend big bucks on big experiences or purchases to find joy. We only need to slow down and learn to be present in the moment to find those splashes of joy in life’s simple pleasures.

Setting social media and my workload aside last week gave me the opportunity to experience splashes of joy I would have otherwise missed. What’s one thing you can do to slow down so that you, too, can experience splashes of joy from life’s simple pleasures?