MAK-AIRS

When Joy is A Habit, Love is A Reflex

Heather Pierce, February 7, 2020

I'm reading Bob Goff's new devotional 'Live In Grace, Walk In Love' in 2020. Bob's whole deal is about loving those around us, opening ourselves up to community, and accepting people where they are in this journey we call life. As a natural introvert this can feel overwhelming to me. I tend to shy away from engaging strangers and typically you'll find me with my head buried in a book. A friend reminded me recently that we are not meant to do this life alone even though we are encouraged to think that way in this country. I am trying to be more purposeful in my connections this year.
In today's devotional Bob asks, "How do we make joy a habit in our everyday lives so our reflex is always love for the people around us?" His answer, "I can't think of a better way than gratitude. When we're intentional about giving thanks for everything we come across, we can't help but feel joy over the pure gift of another day. And when our joy has become a habit, our love becomes a way of living."
Yes! This is what we should all strive for. A reflex of love, born from the habit of joy, built on the discipline of gratitude. So what are you grateful for today? As Information and Referral professionals we get the distinct honor of connecting with lost, hurting people day in and day out. It isn't easy work but if we've built a habit of joy then even when our callers spew anger in our direction our natural reflex can be love.
MAK-AIRS and AIRS are communities of people that do the work that you do, understand the highs and lows of I&R, and support each other. Join us! Make plans now to attend our Regional Conference this fall in Kansas City to expand your support network. I look forward to connecting with you there!