It was her smile that first drew me to her. I mean, you see that picture. How could it not?
This kid is of a lot of things: smart, determined, funny. But what catches you most is her joy.
Dolly has been through so much in her short life. She watched her twin brother drown. Her father left shortly after the tragedy and her mother abandoned her at one of our partner homes. That would certainly be enough to zap the joy right out of me.
That’s why I see the joy of the Lord in Dolly. Too often, we have decided that the solemnity of God is our strength. The rules of God are our strength. The hard parts of following Jesus are our strength. But what does the Bible say?
“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’” -Nehemiah 8:10
The joy of the Lord.
I firmly believe that joy and reverence are both vital. The thing is that I’m not too bad at the reverence. But that’s why God put this beautiful kaleidoscope of humans on our little planet, so we can learn from each other. Little, barely 6-year-old Dolly teaches me joy.
– Michaela Shake, Director of India Ministries
My prayer for young Dolly, and all of us, is that she will rejoice in the Lord always, and let the peace of the Lord guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4;4 & 7 paraphrase).
My prayer for Dolly, and for all of us, is that she will rejoice in the Lord always and allow His peace to guard her heart and mind in Christ Jesus. (paraphrase, Philippians 4:4 &7).
The joy of the Lord really is all over Dolly’s face! This is absolutely right, she has every right to be sad or angry, etc, but she doesn’t seem from an outside perspective to be at all! I pray that she always remembers to smile like this even through her later tough times! Also, definitely second that joy and reverence are both totally necessary!
After hearing her story, I wonder how Dolly can still show such JOY! And I know it is all God! Blessings to all of the people who touch her life and help her see how loved and what a beautiful creation she is. Dolly, I pray that you will always have a reason to remember your joy! Amen
Dolly’s story reminds me to always remember that, Joy like any other fruit of the Spirit demands expression (her smile). That joy comes from the inside, it is not a feeling based on our circumstances.