These days, I am especially grateful for things that bring me joy.

I’m sure that I’m far from the only one who can especially use a smile or laugh after nearly a year of being beaten down and stressed out by a global pandemic.

On this Super Bowl Sunday, some of the joy-givers that I am grateful for are dogs, running, faith, and funny commercials.

Yesterday morning, I enjoyed a 9-mile run with a long-time friend. It was a chilly minus five degrees out but that didn’t stop us from having an uplifting conversation during our run or the joy-giving endorphins from kicking in.

During our walk last night in even colder conditions, Caleb brought a smile to my face by running, rolling, and digging head-first in the snow.

This morning, I was reminded in a sermon of the encouraging gift of Christian faith that tells us that life doesn’t end with a funeral but begins with a resurrection.

This evening, I look forward to some good laughs from Super Bowl commercials.

If they happen to all be duds, I’ll just do an internet search for what currently is giving me a good laugh—the Dr. Rick Progressive commercials.

Happy Super Bowl Sunday everyone!