Joy Like Snowballs

My dog could chase snowballs all. day. long.

Gladly. Joyfully. Enthusiastically. Optimistic that this time he might actually catch it before it hits the ground and disappears. But knowing that another will magically appear in my hand to throw for him, regardless of his success or failure with the last one. If another doesn’t appear today (because I can’t feel my fingers because I’ve been throwing snowballs all. day. long.) he knows another will appear tomorrow. And if the snow melts tomorrow, he simply enjoys rolling in the dirt and chasing squirrels until the magic white snowball stuff falls from the sky again. He never worries about what’s coming next, because he is so focused on the joy of the present moment.

What if we could all approach our days like my dog approaches snowballs?

Gladly. Joyfully. Enthusiastically. Optimistic for potential successes, and unconcerned with probable failures. Knowing that whether you succeed or fail, another different opportunity will eventually, if not immediately, present itself. Looking only at the joy of what’s in front of you now, instead of worrying about what you can’t control (like the snow melting) tomorrow.

As the last of the daylight slips away, I mourn for another day done. The reds and pinks of the Montana sky are beautiful to behold, but as night comes on I’m reminded of time passing and a life fleeting. But the dog is content to lay by the fire, and eventually drift off dreaming of chasing snowballs.

I wish you (and I)  joy like snowballs all. day. long.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34