Spreading Joy

Bubbles! I love bubbles! Even the word sounds happy!

July is a great month to play with bubbles, by the way.

When we blow into those suds-soaked bubble wands, we surround ourselves and those around us with bubbles. These bubbles, carried by the wind, reach out to everyone nearby. The joy of the bubbles is contagious.

On the other hand, if we blow our bubbles into a paper bag and close the top, the bubbles quickly disappear. No joy is spread, and the bubbles die.

Like the children’s song “This Little Light of Mine,” we can spread joy and other fruits of the Spirit by letting our lights shine and by letting our bubbles blow.

For example, have you ever witnessed a child whose tickle box has been overturned? You can’t help but smile and giggle with that child. The joy is contagious. It spreads like wildfire!

According to the old camp song “Pass It On” by Kurt Kaiser, “It only takes a spark to get a fire going, and soon all those around can warm up to its glowing. That’s how it is with God’s love. Once you’ve experienced it, you spread His love to everyone. You want to pass it on.”

I recently attended a revival service where I witnessed several people sharing their testimonies. Their faith-sharing spread like wildfire throughout the congregation. I felt the power of the Holy Spirit in that sanctuary, and I saw the bubbling over of joy.

Pollyanna, an icon in the 1913 children’s book by Eleanor H. Porter, spreads her feel-good attitude to everyone in her community. Having learned a spirit of optimism from her father, Pollyanna teaches a disheartened group of townspeople to see the good in every situation.

Pollyanna finds her rationale from the Word. She reasons, “If God took the trouble to tell us eight hundred times to be glad and rejoice, He must want us to do it—SOME.” Her advice is well-received, and her joy spreads like wildfire.

The theme for this summer’s Kentucky Christian Writers Conference was based on Acts 13:49: “The word of the Lord spread like wildfire through the whole region” (MSG). Hallee Bridgeman, coordinator for the conference, encouraged participants to share their words and allow their gifts from God to “spread like wildfire.” She used Paul and Barnabas as an example. When they began sharing the good news about Christ, an entire city showed up to hear more.

So go ahead. Blow your bubbles, let your light shine, be like Pollyanna and Paul and Barnabas, share your talents. You can make someone’s day brighter. An entire city might want to hear more.

“Go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” —Isaiah 55:12

“Sweets with sweets war not, joy delights in joy.” –Shakespeare’s Sonnet VIII

Psalm 47:1, Philippians 4:4, Galatians 5:22