It was a thin ice ring of root beer that recently thrilled me. I was enjoying a fresh diet root beer at Fitz's restaurant and began twirling the straw around the inside wall of the ice cold mug when I discovered my straw wouldn't quite reach the bottom of the mug. As I firmly pushed my straw to the bottom, a small ice ring broke away and floated to the top. Wow! The mug was chilled to just the right temperature and the root beer pour in just the right way to form a small ring of root beer ice.I was thrilled. It was as if I'd hit a jackpot. I tried to lift the ice ring out of the mug with my straw, but it kept slipping at the last second. And it was melting with each try. I had to take quick action.
So I stuck my finger and thumb info my root beer (yes, my hands were clean...and besides, it's just my own germs, right?), and I rescued the drowning ice ring, tossed it into my mouth and enjoyed the sweetness as it quickly melted on my tongue. It was delicious ...and apparently my joy was evident, because when I looked at my husband, he was smiling along with me.
Before you convict me of irrational and inappropriate behavior in a restaurant, play the tapes of your own life.
When was the last time you enjoyed something with such completeness?
Have you watched a child forcefully jump into a puddle with both feet? Leap into the air toward a parent or grandparent with complete trust the person would catch her? Grasp a glass of chocolate milk with both hands and tip it back for a long while, waiting for each previous drop to slide into her mouth?
You've had moments like that, too. Childlike abandonment...complete enjoyment of something that might seem to others to be frivoulous or insignificant. But if it was truly insignificant, you wouldn't enjoy it so much.
What are some of your simple joys?
Look for them. God understands our lives include many struggles. Simple joys are small, unexpected, inexpensive surprises he gives us. He enjoys giving us gifts of simple joys. And I think he thrills at the simple joys we give him as well.
So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 8:15 (NLT)
