There was a year in my early fifties when joy did not come easily to me. You know that whole “choose joy” thing? Yeah, speaking as someone who went through a year when joy wasn’t something I felt I could choose, let me assure you that to tell someone who’s struggling with depression that she just needs to “choose joy” isn’t going to be very helpful to that person. To tell someone that you love her, that she has purpose, that she’s needed, to ask her to go on walks with you, and to listen to her without judgment and condemnation – but with unconditional love – these are all helpful things. But to tell her to “choose joy”? Not so much.
Karen
“If Christian healing is abused by mere smatterers in Science, it becomes a tedious mischief-maker. Instead of scientifically effecting a cure, it starts a petty crossfire over every cripple and invalid, buffeting them with the superficial and cold assertion, ‘Nothing ails you.'”
– Mary Baker Eddy
Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist 
Karen, I enjoy your blogs,your pictures and your humour …. not being an American don’t always understand the political aspects but that aside, keep up your good work pointing out that Love is the only answer. Thought you might enjoy reading a book I found a few months ago – was mentioned by someone in the CSMonitor. *Lasting Happiness in a changing world – The Book of Joy *- Dalai Lama, Desmond Tutu with Douglass Abrams – while reading it I thought how MBE would have enjoyed meeting and sitting down with them and having a discussion about Spirit, Soul, Love and the true meaning of spiritual Joy. Would be interested in your comments if you have an opportunity to look through. Contains lots of pithy comments that would very appropriate to use in your blogs!! 😇
*Eurilda*
On 7 November 2017 at 19:40, Adventures of the Madcap Christian Scientist wrote:
> Karen Molenaar Terrell posted: “There was a year in my early fifties when > joy did not come easily to me. You know that whole “choose joy” thing? > Yeah, speaking as someone who went through a year when joy wasn’t something > I felt I could choose, let me assure you that to tell someone who'” >
Thank you, Eurilda – both for the kind words and the book recommendation! I’m always looking for a good book! 🙂