We're glad you can join us for today's encouragement from the Our Daily Bread Devotional.

Our reading is titled, From Wisdom to Joy, and it was written by Patricia Rabin.

The phone rang, and I picked it up without delay.

Calling was the oldest member of our church family,

a vibrant, hardworking woman who was nearly 100 years old.

Putting the final touches on her latest book,

she asked me some writing questions to help her cross the finish line.

As always, however, I soon was asking her questions about life, work, love, family.

Her many lessons from a long life sparkled with wisdom.

She told me, pace yourself.

And soon we were laughing about times she'd forgotten to do that.

Her wonderful stories all seasoned with true joy.

Wisdom leads to joy. The Bible teaches. Proverbs 313 says,

Joyful is the person who finds wisdom, the one who gains understanding. We find that this path,

from wisdom to joy, is a biblical virtue indeed. For wisdom will enter your

heart and knowledge will fill you with joy, says Proverbs 2.10. God gives wisdom, knowledge,

and joy to those who please him, says Ecclesiastes 2.26. Wisdom will guide you down

delightful paths, adds Proverbs 317. Reflecting on the matters of life, author C.S. Lewis declared

that joy is the serious business of heaven.

The path there, however, is paved with wisdom.

My church friend, who lived to be 107, would agree.

She walked a wise, joyful pace to the king.

...