I am cut off from the remainder of the house as the door slowly comes to a complete close followed by giggles that can fill the deep parts of your soul.  I can faintly hear Abba playing in the background as I lay in bed.  As I proceed to sit up I am suddenly aware of my throbbing head and just can’t find the strength to make it any further.  As time slowly continues and my mind slowly coming around I am reminded of my responsibility today and just can’t find joy in babysitting all day.

I slowly make my way to the living room to find two little girls hurriedly scamper into their room as giggle fallow their footsteps.  Their dad has positioned himself on far end of the couch reading his Bible so intently and has a grin on his face from ear to ear as he hears his children snigger into their room. 

As time passes we wave goodbye to mom and dad and the babysitting has begun.  The joy on their faces as their parents leave is astounding but as soon as the door shuts my facial expression is just exact opposite.  I have no idea how to entertain for a full day to children that barely understand English and an attitude from myself that is not pleasing.  Sure this is month nine and i have done this a lot but not for ten hours.  So here Liz and I are with 9-year-old and 3-year old Japanese girls who are ready to have a day that is worth living for and we are searching for how?

So I leisurely make my way to the couch and try to wrap my mind around entertaining kids and to my surprise Mihiro is standing in front of me and in broken English says,  “Want to play cards?”

This is how the babysitting began. I was sitting back and the activity was brought to me.  As the day continued I couldn’t escape the sound of two Japanese girls giving life by sharing joy with what they were doing.  That I couldn’t find hope in the day ahead but was given hope from the two little girls who enjoyed; laughing, playing, eating, movie watching and so much more. 

This day that seemed so disastrous in the beginning was life giving in the end.  Where God helped me get a little clearer understanding about joy by spending time with two Japanese girls who didn’t speak English.  But knowing after we played cards, laughed a lot, ate dinner, watched movies that joy was found in making sure there was always something to do.  But that you can find joy in everything you do which then gives life. 

Need joy? Need life?…