Barbie’s husband, Gary, was three months away from retirement when he was diagnosed with cancer.

A year later, Barbie welcomed their sixth grandchild into the world… three days after Gary’s funeral. Naturally, she felt as if her heart was literally breaking into pieces.

She misses Gary tremendously.

She wishes they could have spent their retirement years together. But she also knows she has a choice. She can turn her sorrow into bitterness by refusing to see death for what it is, OR she can let God help her turn her sorrow into joy — the joy of remembering the years of faithful love for God and one another they shared. The joy of knowing God still has things for her to do… and doing them. The joy of knowing she will spend eternity with Gary and with God.

Barbie has a choice.

We all do. We can let sorrow hold us hostage to the joy and blessings only God can give, or we let God’s joy be our joy too.

Barbie chooses joy. Every day she opens her eyes, heart, and mind to joy. Will you?