I sat staring at the jar, feeling anything but joy. Every day, I pull a slip of paper from my Joy Jar with a random act of kindness printed on it. The act is always something small, but the impact can be big. That day, I didn’t want to reach into the jar. My body was not catching up to my brain, and I wanted to stay in bed. “Just take one step outside of the box, Lisa, and ask God to take it from there.” Mom’s words were repeating in my head. “Even on the toughest days, there is always a way to serve and give back. Just take that first step.” Those words had helped me through Mom’s cancer battle and my autoimmune journey. Purpose. Serving. Trusting.
I made my Joy Jar to remind me that no matter what life throws our way, whether big or small, I can always turn it around and give back. How hard is it to make a phone call and let someone know you’re praying for them? And how many times had I met people with amazing stories and miracles? Plenty. And today would be no different.
I took that first step and pulled from the jar. The paper said, “Send a card to someone in need of a smile.” I instantly knew who needed this card, so I took out pen and paper and wrote words of encouragement. I sealed the envelope and Mabel Joy and I headed to the post office to drop it in the mail slot. But as we began our journey, there was construction at every turn, and we were getting nowhere fast. A route that should have taken five minutes stretched into twenty, and my patience was running out. I wished that Joy Jar had given me something different, and I was about to grumble when I remembered the prayer that I prayed that morning as my feet hit the floor.
Lord, may every step and minute of this day be directed by you.
I often forget that prayer when the detours take me to unplanned places. My own agenda gets in the way of the paths God wants to take me on. I took a deep breath and remembered that God always directs my steps. He always has a plan.
We finally made it to the post office, and after mailing my letter, I headed to the next stop on my list of errands. I was pulling away from the post office when I saw an elderly woman with a letter in her hand, struggling to make it to the door. She was walking with a cane, and something in my spirit shouted at me to help her. I pulled back into the parking lot and jumped out quickly. I had just come up behind the woman when her cane missed a step and she stumbled backwards into my arms. If I had hesitated for a second, I wouldn’t have caught her. The timing was God’s, and He gave me the strength to do what needed to be done. I helped her stand back up, grabbed her cane, and told her we would walk to the mailbox together. After she dropped her letter in the box, we turned toward her car. She was shaking and wiping tears. “Thank you, thank you.” she repeated.
I learned her name is Mary, and she was recently widowed and trying to make it on her own. She had been fighting her own health battle, and in the middle of it, lost family 
members to COVID. Her path of loneliness was scary, but she was doing her best. Her husband used to take care of the mail runs, she told me, but now it was her job. Mary and I had an instant connection, and I thanked her for sharing her story with me. There was an extra care box in my car, so I gave it to her before I left. She opened it, then buried her face in her hands, crying so hard she couldn’t speak. I let Mabel out of the car so she could snuggle for a moment with Mary. As Mabel leaned in, my new friend’s arms reached around her furry neck for a comforting snuggle. Then Mary turned to me and held out her arms for a hug, thanking me again. “You lifted me up in every way possible today. You were an answer to my prayer.”
members to COVID. Her path of loneliness was scary, but she was doing her best. Her husband used to take care of the mail runs, she told me, but now it was her job. Mary and I had an instant connection, and I thanked her for sharing her story with me. There was an extra care box in my car, so I gave it to her before I left. She opened it, then buried her face in her hands, crying so hard she couldn’t speak. I let Mabel out of the car so she could snuggle for a moment with Mary. As Mabel leaned in, my new friend’s arms reached around her furry neck for a comforting snuggle. Then Mary turned to me and held out her arms for a hug, thanking me again. “You lifted me up in every way possible today. You were an answer to my prayer.”I think she had it backwards. Mary was an answer to my prayer, and it began with my Joy Jar. The construction delay felt like a useless detour, but it allowed me to be there for Mary at the moment she needed me. It was God’s perfect timing for both of us. That day, I had been feeling frustrated and unprepared for the unexpected. I wanted to stay in my comfortable place and skip the Joy Jar. But God caught me, reminding me of Mom’s words and calming my spirit, giving me His strength so I could catch someone else in need. That simple act of kindness changed everything about my day. And I have a new friend.
What is in your Joy Jar? Take that first step and see where God leads. He wants to take you on a journey where a small act can have a big impact. Lives will be changed, and one of those will be yours.