[Tweet “Want an honest, simple, love-filled insight about life?- ask someone with #downsyndrome. “]

The birds were singing, the sun was shining, the air was crisp and cool.  Bethany and I swung clasped hands as we walked.

“Mom.  I’ve been thinking.”

Laughing I said, “I love your thinking! What have you been thinking, Bethy?

“I’ve been thinking about that movie, Inside Out.  I love that movie. Right. You love that movie too, right, Mom?”

“Yes! I thought it was really cool.”

a brief synopsis if you haven’t seen the movie- Joy, Sadness, Anger, Disgust, and Fear are the characters inside the mind of a 12 year old girl named Riley.  These “feelings”  represent her emotions and reactions to her life.

“Well, I’ve been thinking.  I’m like that movie.  I AM Joy.!

There was a pause before she continued. “Well, Mostly I am “Joy”, and sometimes I am “Sadness”.  But only a little bit of  “Sadness”.  But mostly I’m “Joy”.” Bethany smiled.

“Wow! Beth!  That’s really insightful.  You are happy and joyful most of the time!  That’s one of the reasons I love being around you.  And you’re right- when you are sad (just a little bit 😉 ) you are sad for just a little while and then you bounce back.  That is such a great way to live!”

We smiled and walked in silence for a few more minutes.

“But I also think,  I’m Joy and a little bit of Sadness, but you know what makes me really sad?”

“Nope.”

“Anger. I don’t like anger.  Mommy-  I think A_____ mostly Anger and a little bit of Disgust. I don’t like Anger. I worry for her.  I want her to be Joy and Sadness.  Why can’t she just be Joy, Mommy?”

(Side note: A_____ is our foster daughter who has autism.  And a lot of anger issues.  And a lot of negativity.  And no filter when it comes to expressing her disgust.  We’ve been trying to model patience, and understanding.  We try a lot of “OUTSIDE IN” strategies: therapy, appropriate medicine, modeling, teaching, etc. And they do help- temporarily.  Even with all the “outside” help,  her inside thinking and verbalization is so negative, that I would seriously throw her a party if we could get through even  half a day without complaining, whining or an outburst of anger. .)

But the truth is PERMANENT CHANGE has to come from the INSIDE OUT (just like the movie title suggests)

[Tweet “Permanent #Change comes through #transforming power of God’s #love. #insideOut “]

[Tweet “Be made new in the attitude of your minds; Eph 4:23”]

Back to Bethany’s question- “Why can’t A_______  just BE JOYFUL?”

It’s complicated.   God calls us to be made new in our attitudes so  “Why can’t we just flip a switch and become loving, joyful, positive people?

I think it’s because we ALL need a perfect God to transform our imperfections.

We need the Love of God to remake our hearts.

We need the Word of God to be a mirror so we can see ourselves for who we really are, and desire change.

We need the Spirit of God to fill us and transform us; authentically, powerfully, permanently- FROM the INSIDE OUT!

So Bethany, to answer your question “Why can’t A______ just BE JOY?”

Well, Beth; she’s becoming ….- just like all us on this life journey. And God tells us in His Word that He is transforming us one thought and action at a time.

Surprising Treasures: Take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside out-  working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces His character in you.  Ephesians 4 The Message