JOY: Jesus, Others, and You!
JOY: Jesus, Others, and You!
“We’ve called the Quad Cities home for nearly 40 years (Sam from central Iowa, Dee from eastern Nebraska). After retiring from the grocery industry and office administration, we’re blessed to share our days with our son and daughter-in-law, two grandsons, and our four-legged companion, Teddy.
When we hear the word “Joy,” we think of it as an acronym: Jesus, Others, and You. This guides how we try to live each day.
Joy fills our lives through family, friendships, and our St. Paul community—the worship, beautiful music, and fellowship. We’re especially excited about expecting our first great-granddaughter on Christmas Eve! Daily joys include morning coffee together, devotions, sinking a long putt, tending our garden, and working on jigsaw puzzles.
Volunteering has brought unexpected joy into our lives. Recently, we’ve helped with the Tapestry Farms food program for refugee families and Soil Stewards—both fill our hearts deeply. We also find joy in simple gifts: the magnificent colors of fall hardwoods, a songbird’s melody in spring, eagles soaring at Credit Island, or a warm story in the morning paper.
We cultivate joy by staying positive, expressing gratitude for our blessings, building new relationships, and finding more opportunities to volunteer. Whether in the big moments or ordinary days, joy surrounds us when we remain open to seeing it.”
— Sam & Deanna Gross
