My two young grandsons (ages 6 and 9) stayed with us for several days after Christmas. We played games and took walks. And, on Sunday, we took them to church with us where they loved the Sunday School program.

After church, I went to the Sunday School section to pick up the boys. I chatted with some of the people helping there, and as we left, my older grandson looked up at me and said, “Nana, I haven’t seen you smile this much.”

At first, I was taken aback. Had I been too serious and not sharing my joy with the boys? Had the stress of the holidays stolen something from me that my grandson saw? In thinking one it, I didn’t believe so. I had laughed and joked with the boys and other family members. We had plenty of fun times.

So, what did he see that was different enough he commented on my behavior? What I came up with is that at church those are my people. I’m happy to see them and to interact. I pray for them and for my church. Plus, I’d just come out of church after hearing an excellent message by our pastor. 

In the New Testament, Paul often spoke of the joy he felt toward the people of the various churches. Thinking of them, praying for them, seeing their work for the Lord brought him joy.

Paul writes to the Philippians:

^“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, ⁴always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” Philippians 1:3-7

He writes in 2 Timothy 1: 3-4

“I thank God whom I serve, as did my ancestors, with a clear conscience, as I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. ⁴As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.”

It seems that joy for those in our congregation goes hand in hand with remembering them in prayer and thinking on the positive aspects of their faith. People in our church are human with faults, but they also have godly characteristics. If we focus on those, and pray for them with that joy in mind, then our countenance is changed when we see them.

My grandson’s comment caught me off guard, but as I thought about it, I believe his observance was the result of seeing that joy I have for the people. I hope I always show that smiling love or at least a light from within.

What about you? Do you find joy in being among the people when you attend church?