“Count it all joy”….. is part of the verse in James concerning trials and temptations that come our way. When we decided to open the Tree of Life Christian Bookstore we wanted a good name and good parting words.
At Mom’s Schoolhouse Diner the sign over the exit door read “Happy Trails to You” from our favorite childhood heroes, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. Most people say “have a nice day” but we wanted something more than the usual phrase and so the “Happy Trails” became our regular so-long message.
I asked Dick if he had any ideas for the bookstore. He jokingly said “Happy Trials to you.” Well, I had a thumbs down response until I remembered that James tells us to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.” (1:2 and 3) Patience does not mean free from anger or anxiety but rather an endurance, however long, for any trial to pass. And God desires us to pass it by counting it all joy.
So, we say “Happy Trials to you” as together we run with patience the race set before us and count our various trials all joy. Kept in His Love, Sharon