Recently joining Young Catholic Professionals I attended a panel discussion about Joy. There were three topics: pleasure, happiness and joy. Pleasure is fleeting, happiness is an emotion that comes and goes, but joy is constant. Only true joy may be given to us by God, by knowing Him. This gift allows us to persist even in the midst of our sadness.

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Pure Joy is given to us by God
We see it in the crinkles of our eyes
Feel it in the lightness of our hearts
We asked and have received
And thank God for that because in Life there is also Sorrow

We have all seen Pain that overtakes
If our Joy so easily corrupts we have mistaken it for happiness
Merely an emotion amongst others
Pure Joy is a state of being
Be joyful in knowing that He is in control

And thank God for that