My Greatest Joy | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: My Greatest Joy | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Janson
11/02/23
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I have a large sign in my kitchen that quotes 3John 1:4: “My greatest joy is in knowing that my children are walking in the truth.” I was first struck by this verse as a young mother (as well as a young believer) when I heard a Johnny Cash gospel song. I was already impressed by Johnny’s life transformation when the radio played his deep voice singing, almost praying, “....I found the greatest joy in my salvation, is in knowing that my children walk in truth.” It spoke to my heart.

The verse stayed with me through several years, until eventually I found the courage to have it made into a large sign and hung on my wall for all to see. Especially my children. They were getting older, and I felt I needed to impress upon them how important this Truth was to me. When they were leaving for college, I thought I was reminding them how to keep their mama happy - almost as a fear tactic. I was “helping” God.

As my faith grew, this sign on my wall began speaking to me. I watched my children face disappointment and rejection, and I had to repeatedly remind myself of what was most important. My oldest son didn’t get the job he wanted; my second son got his heart broken; the third didn’t get the scholarship he applied for; son number four didn’t make the soccer team; and my youngest son didn’t have his flawless smile anymore (suffering major dental work from a ski accident). These trials and tribulations seemed to go on and on.

I wanted my kids to be happy. If I was being honest with myself, I even liked to boast a little about their accomplishments. But that’s not what’s most important to God. I know from my own experiences, how He uses hard times to draw us closer to Him and mature us in our faith.

This is why we were created - not to be “happy”, but to worship Him, and have an intimate relationship with Him. Truly my greatest joy should be in “knowing that my children are walking in truth” - regardless of hardships they might endure. What irony that this sign in my kitchen ended up really being for me!

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