A Mother’s Day Reflection

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace…” — Galatians 5:22

Mother’s Day always falls close to my birthday, so we usually celebrate the two together. This year, all eleven of us gathered at Popo’s house for the occasion. It was a beautiful, sunny day—the perfect setting for the kids’ first swim of the year in Popo’s pool. Their excitement was contagious.

My two daughters chatted happily as they watched their children splash and play. Their husbands were off to the side, absorbed in an iPad, browsing the internet. Our eldest granddaughter, Wei, balanced her time between enjoying the sunshine and tackling her homework. She’s been working hard to keep her grades up—focused and determined.

Roro, now 14, was happier than usual. Over the past year, her awareness and understanding have deepened, and she truly appreciated being surrounded by family. La and Qing, the nine-year-old elves, chattered nonstop—talking to each other, to the adults, and even to inanimate objects around them.

Then there was little Ying—the youngest and by far the loudest. She made absolutely sure no one forgot she was there. Gong Gong busied himself inflating pool toys, while Popo sat back, content and glowing, watching her beautiful family together in one place.

I’m beginning to understand that joy doesn’t always need a reason; sometimes, it simply fills the heart. The world today may be full of challenges—global issues, political tensions, economic pressures, and more. But in that moment, we were happy. We were content. Life was good. It was a beautiful Mother’s Day to remember.

The Bible speaks often and deeply about joy—not as fleeting happiness, but as a lasting, inner gladness grounded in God’s presence. True joy, as Scripture reminds us, is not dependent on what’s happening around us, but on Who is within us.