joy

This is Mae, one of the house helpers who works next door, with Michael and the neighbor's children who she cares for.
Mae, and another helper, Joy, live with this family in an apartment the size of ours. We think that Mae and Joy must share a room like Michael's.

Shortly after we moved in, we met these young ladies, and not long afterward, they left a sweet note in our box. The end of it read,
"We are hoping and wishing that we are friends. May GOD bless your family, we are praying for your family...this is your neighbor house, Mae and Joy."
We hear them up working early, frying fish for breakfast at 5:30 or 6.
We hear them singing hymns as they do the laundry or dishes over the wall out back, and every time we see them, they are smiling.

Their joy is evident, and surprising, considering their lot in life.
But its source is obviously deeper than what they have or want.

"The very nature of Joy makes nonsense of our common distinction between having and wanting."

--C.S.Lewis

They serve as daily reminders to us of the joy found in knowing Christ!