First Letter - Collection of Letters to my daughter

Dear Daughter,

Your middle name is joy. And I pray that all the days of your life are filled with joy. But don't confuse joy with happy feelings - which are only a part of the real deal, because joy is much bigger than that. While I do pray that God will give you all the desires of your heart which prosper you, but I want you to know that this alone is not enough to give you joy. It may seem like getting what you want is the secret of having joy, but it is not. 

To find joy you will need to look inward, even when though it seems more natural to look outward.  And I can tell you this that it will not be found in the bubbles of glee floating around you but rather in the rock of faith inside of you. And if you find it, you will see for yourself that it will not burst with trying times, nor will it stop smiling in tears. It runs deep and it is life-giving. This joy is a coat of many colours. Cheerfulness, smiles, laughter, satisfaction, excitement, delight, pleasure, and many other positive feelings are amongst some of its most pleasing-to-the-eye colours. There are, however, other colours as well which do not glitter as brightly - they more subtle and peaceful in shades. Amongst these not so visible colours are colours of peace, security, hope, courage, strength, trust that all will work out for good and faith that you are deeply loved. There are as many ways to wear this robe as there are its colours, each emphasizing a different tone. The secret, my darling, is in knowing that what weaves this coat of many colours together is the glistening thread of gratefulness.

Yes. If you want joy you will have to teach your heart gratefulness. And when you learn to be grateful  it will be as if you have learned to soar on winds.

May your days be filled with Joy.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". 

Romans 15:13 (NIV).

~images taken from Google Images unless specified~

Intro to the collection of 'Letters to my daughter'

Life brings with it lessons - some are beautifully joy-giving, while others have been priced with pain. If there is anything a mother's heart wants it is to pass on the lessons she has learned, rather she has earned with age and experience, to her daughter. Whether you write them down or whether you make her hear them in your constant nagging or teach them with patience in the creative moments of learning, the intentions behind them is always a mother's heart which is forever seeking to protect and always praying for no harm to ever come near her most treasured pearl.

So here begins my penning down of all that my heart wants hers to know one day.

~All images taken from Google Images~