Greater Joy

Greater Joy

No good deed goes unpunished. For years Joy had written the names of those who blessed her, the people who had taken time to encourage or help her. There were only a few. But in her heart she wanted to bless their lives with what she called, “gems of joy.” But circumstances kept her locked in a box. She got up in the morning. She said her prayers. She took her shower and dressed. She then went to the same job that she'd been on for the past 26 years.

Joy went to her job through the storm, the heat, the wind, and the cold. Through the winter, through the spring, through the summer, and through the fall, she followed this daily routine. She always wanted more, but life’s interruptions caused her to repeat the same routine day in and day out. She gave her all on the job even though she was passed over time and time again for promotion.

Although Joy repeated this same routine, and was blatantly ignored by her peers, she still brought joy to the lives of those around her, many times at the cost of bringing down her self-esteem. She silently took their snide inferences with a smile on the outside but screaming in pain on the inside. Joy was never one to give up. She did what she thought would keep her head above water. She wanted to do more but there was something in her spirit that was broken. Whenever she stepped up to what seemed to be a better direction, she ended up cowering back in fear. She hit another brick wall, locking the door of success. In her mind she told herself, I just can't do it. If I can't go up, at least I'll stay in this same vein.

You never know who's watching you. You never know who's noticing you. You may think nobody sees. But someone was watching Joy. This someone was a person not only of monetary means, but a person that believed in a vision of pulling out the best in people. Especially the people whom he believed brought out the best in others. To him Joy was the perfect candidate.

One day Joy received a notice that she had a certified letter being held for her at the post office . She thought to herself, another bill. If I don't go get it, maybe it will just go away. But something on the inside of her said, this is not the way you conduct your life. You’re better than that! Go get the letter and take care of your business. Joy made a mental note to leave work a little earlier the next day and pick up the envelope.

And that she did. Stuffing it down into her purse, saying to herself, I'll read it when I get home. But as she as she got on the bus, she was just too curious to know which bill it was today. She always sat by the window and so she turned cater-cornered as she wanted no intrusion from the person beside her. She reached into her purse, grabbed the crumpled envelope, and proceeded to open it.

Joy looked at the outside of the envelope and noticed no name, only a p.o. box number. A sick feeling begin to swirl in her stomach. As she took the letter out, she thought how strange it was that no words were on the letter. The letter only had a picture of a black smiling emoji. She quickly folded the letter back up and stashed it in the envelope trying to act natural as her eyes noticed the slight glare of the person on the seat beside her. At last she reached her stop. She was apparently shaken up by this experience and a hundred things were going through her mind. All the “w” questions filled her head. Who sent this? What does it mean? When will I get to the bottom of this? Where did this come from? And most of all, why me? How could anyone stoop so low?

Joy took extra precaution as she got off the bus. Shaken by the mysterious mailing, her shoulders slumped as she walked to her apartment. As she approached the door with her head hung down, her eyes naturally fell to the ground. She opened the outer door and was unlocking the inner door. Glancing to the left as she was turning the key, she noticed a black object behind the small bush nearest to the door. At first impression she thought it was a discarded piece of trash. As she was turning the key to open the door, the object still held her attention. She backed up from the outer door and took a closer look. It was a book, a small black notebook. She cautiously reached down, picked it up. Feeling ever so suspicious she proceeded to open the cover as she was walking into her apartment.

Joy was startled by what was on the first page of the small black notebook. It was the same picture of a black smiling emoji as the letter contained. She dropped the small black notebook and her purse. Instead of immediately picking them up, she backed up. With a puzzled look on her face, she stood there. Time stood still as she questioned whether she should pick it up or leave it there, grab her purse and get out of the apartment. Putting her fears aside, she bent down and picked up the small black notebook. She went back to the door. She stepped out the door. She peered to her left and right, thinking she might see whoever it was playing tricks on her. She thoroughly looked at her surroundings from one end of the street to the other. She tightly held on to that small black notebook, covering it with her hands as if it were something she had to hide.

Seeing nothing unusual, Joy mustered up courage and opened the small black notebook again. She thought about calling someone and sharing this questionable experience. But who? Joy had no best friend and she didn’t know what stance the few people she knew would think of her. So she opened it standing right there in front of her apartment. Joy’s mind was still racing with the “w” questions. Turning to page two, Joy saw a digital sketch of herself. As she stood outside Joy froze in her tracks, overwhelmed with the notion that someone would play this cruel trick on her. After getting this far her curiosity was even greater. She turned to page three. This page of the small black notebook contained a poem written about her.

Joy you’re sweet, Joy you’re kind

Your concern for others, blows my mind.

Joy you are a treasure chest

And you deserve the very best.

Pages one though three

Shows the beauty I see.

Pages four through eight

You have open gates.

Pages nine and ten

Your treasures begin.

Pages ten and eleven

You’ll feel you’re in heaven.

Page twelve continues too

With making things happen for you.

Don’t try to find who did this deed

I only want to meet your need.

Not just your need but desires too

For all the kind things that you do.

I trust you will not depart

From helping people from your heart.

Your life is about to make a major shift

From the good things this small black notebook

Brings to you as a gift.

Joy’s head was spinning. She wondered what this meant. Her heart was beating fast. She read the poem again. Thoughts engulfed her as a wave over a surfer. She quickly turned to page four of the small black notebook. It contained a phone number and instructions to call the number the next day at 9am. Joy suddenly came to herself and realized she was still standing outside of her apartment. She hurriedly went inside and closed the door. She took off her jacket, picked up her purse and ran to her comfortable chair. She opened the small black notebook to page five. This page contained one word-LIVE. Page six of the small black notebook contained one word-LOVE. Page seven of the small black notebook contained one word-LAUGH. Page eight of the small black notebook contained a picture of the sun. Page nine of the small black notebook contained a picture of blue skies over a beautiful village. And page ten of the small black notebook contained a picture of an opened treasure chest filled with white, gold, and pink pearls hanging from the chest. It also had silver and gold coins and precious stones in the chest. A picture of a small black notebook sat on top of the treasure in the chest.

On the picture of the small black notebook, $20,000 was written in embossed in black letters. The words FOR JOY was written directly beneath the $20,000. Page eleven of the small black notebook contained a picture of a beautiful flower. And on page twelve of the small black notebook was written the words, this is just the beginning of your joy. Joy was so overwhelmed she couldn’t sleep. But then could anyone sleep with the anticipation that such a good thing was happening!! As Joy laid back in her worn out chair, she clutched the small black notebook to her chest and she whispered a prayer of thanks.

She thought to herself, I have a very important date on tomorrow. It’s a date with destiny and my small black notebook is leading the way. Exactly 9am the next day, Joy called the number as instructed on page four of the small black notebook. She was greeted by an associate of a major bank in the city. Joy was told that $20,000 had been deposited into an account for her. Joy was asked when she could come in to claim the account and talk further about her plans. Joy was elated to have been chosen to be the recipient of a life changing experience. As she was on her way to the bank, she thought about the mysterious letter. She thought about the mysterious small black notebook. She thought of the $20,000 blessing. And she thought to herself, good things come in a small black notebook.