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I had lunch with a friend earlier this week, and I was in the last hours of completing a painting project. All projects are exciting at the start, but they quickly turn into drudgery and “How close are we to being done?!” As I get older, this is more and more the case. So I asked him to pray for me, and he graciously launched into the most encouraging prayer, asking for energy and joy.

Energy and joy! That’s a compelling combination. June was away at a retreat, and she let me know around 2p that she would be home around 5:30. So I went into high gear, finishing (at least finishing “enough”) just two minutes before she pulled in. (Timing is everything!)

Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One! (Philippians 4.4, Passion Translation)

I like that verse: “be cheerful…in every season of life.” A good word. And I learned that good cheer brings energy as well.