"I learned from experience that joy does not reside in the things about us, but in the very depths of the soul, that one can have it in the gloom of a dungeon as well as in the palace of a king." (St. Therese of Lisieux)

What is this joy? It is the awareness of the fact that I am a child of God. It is the conviction that God dwells in me, I am a Temple of the Holy Spirit. It is the lived truth that I am loved by God unconditionally. This joy is not depended on feelings or external things. It is the reality of sharing in God's life now and in eternity. It is the awe that happens when I become aware of the grandeur of God in creation, seeing a beautiful sunrise or flaming sunset. It is the understanding that every moment is a gift and every gift is a grace from God for me to enjoy. It comes from dismissing all anxieties and living in the Lord.