It Adds Up

I am not what some would consider a "math person." I don't mind working with numbers, but it's all over for this guy once those numbers involve letters and other symbols. However, I remember taking math speed tests in elementary school, which I was okay with participating in. They were simple addition, subtraction, and multiplication tests, and achieving the top three fastest scores earned a trophy. I remember teaching my boys these types of math problems when they were young, and I recall telling them there's a point when you will look at these simple math problems, and the answer will be automatic—almost no thought (nearly), and you know what answer to choose in your mind. Two numbers added together equal another number, which is the correct answer. If only life could be that simple, huh?

This summer (through July), our little ones and K-5 kids are learning about joy. We define joy as “choosing to celebrate what God is doing.” The Biblical truth is that we can only have this type of joy through our belief in and following Jesus Christ. We want our kids to understand that when you choose Jesus, you have joy (Philippians 4:4). This truth is as automatic and factual as 2+2=4. It adds up, and nothing can change this certainty. No circumstances or evil that comes against us can change the fact that Jesus brings joy to the world (Luke 2:8-20). Jesus + You = Joy. Ok, maybe you don’t always need numbers.