One afternoon, one of my friend’s little boys was very upset because some other kids had been unkind to him. I tried everything I could to coax out his precious smile, but he wasn’t having it. They had hurt him, and he needed time to process it.
As I was about to walk away, I felt a nudge to say something I’d usually reserve for an adult, even though he was only seven years old. I knelt to his level and said, “Hurt people hurt people. Whoever hurt you today is probably not feeling very good about themselves. I know it doesn’t feel good, but don’t let them steal your joy. Only YOU can decide who makes you upset with their words or actions.”
He nodded slightly, his head still down.
He might not have fully understood, but as I walked away, I realized it was *me* who needed that message the most. For much of the past year, I had let setbacks and negativity dictate my emotions and ruin my days. Yet, every emotion we experience stems from a choice—even happiness.
I was reminded of something I read recently during adoration in Matthew Kelly’s The Four Signs of a Dynamic Catholic. Kelly explains that a “dynamic Catholic” begins the day in prayer, setting the tone for everything that follows. He writes, “If a day doesn’t get off to a good start, it rarely finishes as a good day. Once a day gets away from us, we tend to go into survival mode. A day can get away from us in many ways. In fact, a day will almost certainly go wrong unless we consciously take the time to focus the day first thing each morning.”
This habit of starting the day with prayer is essential. It anchors us and allows God’s blessings to guide us through the challenges ahead.
For me, the word intentional has been a guiding light. We must be intentional with our thoughts, feelings, and actions. For example, if someone cuts me off in traffic, I can choose to curse them out and let anger ruin my morning, or I can say, “God bless that person. They’ll get in a wreck if they keep driving like that!” Or, even simpler, a quick, “Jesus, help them and help me.” Such a response can diffuse frustration while seeking support and offering a blessing.
When larger challenges arise—like a flooded house or the need for surgery—we can still turn to God and say, “I trust You have a plan. I will trust in You.” Repeat it as often as needed. Then, let go and let God. Even in the chaos, we can choose to find joy. It may not be an effervescent happiness bubbling over, but it will be a deep, abiding joy—a confidence that God is with us and that “this too shall pass.”
Hearing stories of how God shows up in others’ lives fills me with hope and joy. These reminders reassure me that He will show up for me, too, in His perfect timing. If I let hurt and chaos dictate my mood, I risk spreading that pain to others. Instead, I vow to show up for God and for the people I love.
This year, I choose to seek God in every situation, to cry out to Him when anger threatens to consume me, and to allow His light to shine through me as I choose joy.
