The Daily Choice

How do you feel inside when you’re kind?”

He’s slurping breakfast down when I need to know. I’m wrestling a bib around hardly-patient Child, Hope’s carefully smoothing peanut butter out on toast. Joshua’s pouring the milk pitcher, filling his bowl.

“Come on, humor me, Caleb.”

Caleb looks up from bowl of granola. I wink, hold my spoon out, pseudo-microphone.

“We’re on the scene here this morning with Caleb Voskamp who, witnesses say, was seen helping his sister this morning, yet again. Tell us, Caleb. How did you feel when you voluntarily got up from the table and got a spreading knife for your distraught sister?”

He flushes, shrugs shoulders sheepishly. No cameras run, just five sets of eyes burning into him.

“Good.” Young men endeavor the cool cucumber demeanor when media swarm. He hunches over cereal, heaps another spoonful.

“Excuse us from lingering, sir, but inquiring minds press the question,” Malakai’s grinning, eyes fixed on Caleb. I wave my microphone-utensil closer.

“Does love and kindness feel better, deep inside of you, than anger, or teasing, or mocking?”

Caleb looks up at me, me probing with spoon in hand. He tosses reserve to the morning winds.

“Infinitely!” He throws arms in air, drops of milk from spoon splattering across the floor. His mouth’s full of granola and he’s laughing, smiling.

I am too.

But I have one question that lingers long after the breakfast dishes are cleared away and children find books and learning: Why don’t I always?

If love and kindness always feel better than anger wrenched around my heart, why do I ever choose frustration? Why do I allow creeping annoyance sabotage my own happiness? Is anything worth the sacrifice of joy?

If we’re honest: our aggravation hurts us most. Irritation largely infects our own internal worlds, toxic roots of bitterness spreading, strangling. Anger bites the hand that feeds it: us.

While untiring love releases us to expansive joy. Smiling liberates.

A friend once confessed: Anger can be addictive. It masquerades as power. And as I’ve discovered, every time we think anger will get us what we want, we’re supporting Satan’s philosophy. We're believing in the power of the roar, not the compassion of the Cross. Frustration immigrates us to Satan's domain, when we're called to claim our rightfuly citizenship in Christ's Kingdom, aligning with Jesus’ revolutionary way: the way of love.

The way that brings us the deepest happiness.

Our daydreaming child loses hairbrush, socks, notebook, focus.

And there's the daily choice. Will I choose not to lose my happiness in Him? To remember:

1. Christ's Cause is Worth hanging onto

2. My Joy is Worth hanging onto

3. This relationship is Worth hanging onto


Tenaciously I hold the high ground. The abundant life’s too fulfilling to concede to frustration.

“Sweet, how can I help you?” I touch her shoulder and she smiles.

I do too.

This time, I remember and warm inside.

I choose joy.

Lord, why would anything make me sacrifice my joy in You today?



More: Why not Always Joy

Part of a series this week on Love.

Photo: milk pitcher in morning light