An eccentric woman has taken the internet by storm and has earned the name "Chewbacca Mom" because of it. A four minute video has changed Candace Payne's life, but more importantly, she has changed all of us. You see, our week was going as usual. Monday was Monday, Tuesday was slow, work was difficult on hump day, and then Candace Payne gave us all what we needed to make it to Friday. She gave us joy.
Joy is not something we come by easily these days. We scroll through the news, accidents,and deaths on Facebook and absorb the negative energy like morning coffee. We get into political arguments and degrade each other over trivial matters. We "like" for Jesus and "keep scrolling" for Justin Bieber. We spend so much time on social media watching the world fall apart and wonder why we are anxious and upset. The problem is not the news, the media, or even the people around us. The problem is our happiness deficit. We put out more hate than we take in love. The problem is not our habit of confrontation and constant angst, but our lack of joy.
Phillipians 4:4 tells us, " Always be full of joy in the Lord..." We can recite that so many times from memory but how often do we really observe what the Word is telling us? Be joyful always. Not when we really feel like it. Not when it's easy, but always. This verse serves a daily reminder that no matter what comes that day, you can pull the energy together to be joyful.
Why though? Because someone out there needs to see it. Somebody needs to see a smile, hear kind words, and feel accepted. We have got to get out of the habit of downgrading and complaining our way through life. I do it, and you do it. It's something we have been taught and we have acted upon our whole lives. People think the world is out to get them because the Negative Nancy's in life make it seem that way. Just remember, you do not know everyone's story. Your kindness and joyful attitude could make a day or save a life.
So why should we thank Chewbacca Mom? We should thank her because she reminded us to be still. She reminded us to live in the moment. She reminded us to not care what others think and to let laughter swallow us whole. She reminded us that even in the midst of a hectic work week, we can find five minutes to completely let go. Forget what you have to do in the next hour. Forget you need to pick up your kids, go to a meeting, buy groceries, and pay bills. Just put on your form of happiness and laugh. After a good laugh, carry that joy with you and be the light you want to see in the world.
So thank you Candace Payne for being the light we so desperately need.
