It was summertime when my sisters and I shared snickerdoodle cookies, cheese balls, purple grapes, and theater butter popcorn over miscellaneous comforters in the backseat of what I tell my sisters is the “party van” to watch what would be one of my favorite movies to this day at our local drive-in: Pixar’s Inside Out.

For those of you who do not know, although I recommend you all take 1 hour and 35 minutes out of your day to watch this, Inside Out is an animated movie about a girl named Riley whose family finds themselves in a new location due to her Father’s job. As Riley tries to grow accustomed to leaving her old life behind and embarking onto a new house, school, and friends, her emotions begin to reach an all-time low in the roller coaster that is her life. Throughout the movie, viewers meet the little voices that are inside each of our heads, and are introduced in how our everyday emotions can contribute to a lifetime of lessons.

I probably gained an additional 3lbs of a variety of sweet n’ salty foods in my system that night, but it was in addition to the insight that has remained with me to this day about the importance of Joy.

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Have you ever heard of the phrase, “Jumping for Joy?”

I thought about this last night as my sister begged to show me some of her gymnastic moves she’s been teaching herself since I’ve left for school. I returned home this weekend to get my wisdom teeth removed. That, in itself, has made joy a difficult emotion to express this weekend. But, as I watched her in action, I saw the smile that spread across her face as she embraced the idea of living out the lifestyle that is “Jumping for Joy.”

Rob Bell, Author of The Velvet Elvis, reminds us that Jesus invites everybody to jump. Saying yes doesn’t mean we have to have it all figured out.

And this is an important thing to remember.

I can jump and still have questions and doubts.

I found this at the drive-in last year as well as through my sister last night. It wasn’t always about the doubts of being unable to make the jump or the questioning thoughts of how we might land. It was simply the joy in choosing to do so in spite of these. I found this to be the same in my Christian walk, through my insecurities of how I looked, and in the environment of school as classes began unfolding for this semester.

Celebrate the mystery of life!

“The point is our joy. That is when God is most pleased. Now this joy doesn’t rule out suffering, difficulty, and struggle… but the jump for joy is contagious.”

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One of my favorite scenes from Inside Out involves the character Joy, who remains on a mission alongside sadness to cure Riley’s thoughts and decisions on what events have taken place since the move, run into Bing Bong, Riley’s childhood imaginary friend. Just as Joy comes to find that not everything can be overcome with the optimism she wants to express, Bing Bong reminds us all- through the use of a catchy theme song and a magic rocket ship wagon- that sometimes our greatest joy can be found in the struggles we face and the strength that comes from the sacrifices that have already been made.

I won’t spoil what happens in the outcome of this scene, but if you’re anything like me, it’ll bring tears to your eyes and a bigger picture than just two main emotion figures trying to find their way back for their person with the help of an imaginary friend who leaves us with the words,

“Take her to the moon for me.”

Just last week, we celebrated my Mother’s Birthday. Just last week, we remembered our family’s loss of the twins, who I’m sure were celebrating 13 years in heaven as we did here. In 13 years of both occasions, our family could have gone in multiple different directions, letting our emotions run wild towards sadness, anger, or disgust. And for a while, these personally did take hold of my life as a child. We took a jump, and we took a fall. But, as my Mom continues to share her smile with myself, her students, co-workers, and other family members now -over one too many candles to fit onto the cake- she continues to embrace a lifetime full of Joy Jumping.

I don’t know what’s been holding you down this week, this month, or this year. Maybe it is a mirror or a magazine that’s been depicting you of what you look like instead of who you’re meant to be. Maybe it is a relationship that has become toxic that you’re struggling to find a way to resolve. Maybe it is a job that’s become unstable and puts you in a series of doubts financially. Or maybe it is a recent removal of your wisdom teeth that’s forced you to slow down, delaying your to-do list for work and school.

Celebrate the mystery, live for the jumps, find serenity in the falls, Choose Joy!

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I’m sure my Mom made a wish or two tonight. And I did, too. My wish is that when you read this you are reminded that God’s already promised to take us ALL to the moon.

“So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead.” // 1 Peter 1:6