Wednesday: Make a Joyful Noise.

If you are happy and you know it, your face will surely show it!


This song always makes me smile. I remember as a little girl learning this song in Sunday School. All the kids sounded so happy. Another line goes something like this: If you are happy and you know it, clap your hands. Every one would be giggling and clapping their hands with enthusiasm and while we might not have had a lot of talent we truly made a joyful noise.

Are you making a joyful noise?

As we start to grow older, it seems we become quieter and quieter in our expression of joy and happiness. We often turn to professionals to sing our songs of joy and tears afraid someone might hear us and disapprove. Sometimes we sing in the shower, but do we shower our lives with joyful sounds of song, laughter and dance?

Oh, many of us can raise our voices in anger, but unless one is in a little church in the south, one seldom hears someone raise his or her voice rejoicing like we kids did back before we learned that making a joyful noise was not our inside voice. I want my inside voice to jump out and have some fun. I want to dance and sing and play and not worry about if I will be perfect. If I am having fun, then I am perfect in my heart and where else can perfection be found?

My friend Cate Cavanagh has a wonderful way to let her joyful child out. She grabs her bottle of soapy water and runs around blowing bubbles. Blowing bubbles is truly a joyful expression.

What are you going to do to make a joyful noise today?

Laugh. Giggle. Smile. Lighten up the burdens that you carry.

Remember: to become enlightened one must lighten up!