Joy

She arrived late. She was supposed to be born before Christmas but she didn't want to leave the warmth and comfort of her mother's womb. On January 13, 1975, she finally arrived! A nine pound, nine and a half ounce, beautiful baby girl! Her mom and I were so happy. We named her Joy Michelle Rozier because of the joy she brought to our lives. We had lost our first child in 1973 (miscarriage during the first trimester but still a child), so we were both glad the Lord chose us to be her parents. She was born at the hospital in Ozark, Alabama.

I was in the Army and already on orders to go to Germany, so four days after her birth, we went home to Georgia. I then went to Germany to set up household. I tell you, it sure was hard leaving my wife and new baby behind. Joy took her first airplane ride when she was two months old. She was very close to her mom. Joy would listen intently as we read to her, and at the age of 13 months, she was already talking like a four year old.

When she was two, her mom played a part in the musical, "Jesus Christ, Superstar." Within a few days, little Joy would go around the house singing all the songs of that musical.

We left Augsburg, Germany, in December 1977 and moved to Anniston (Fort McClellan) Alabama. Her mom took much time with Joy and her brother, Joel, and taught them many things. Most of all, she would shower them with hugs and kisses. They knew they were loved. Joy's grandmother, her mom's mom, had left her daughter and moved across the country when Joy's mom was 12. Joy's mom always said, "I'll never leave my children, I love them too much."

Joy entered kindergarten at the age of five. We got a note from the teacher a few days later. She had observed Joy and noticed that she was extremely bright. She suggested that we have Joy tested. We did, and Joy's intelligence (sorry for the interruption. Joy just called me from England, May 28, 2003..confirmation from the Lord that I should write this story) quotient was 148. When she entered first grade, she stayed one day and was skipped up to the second grade.

In 1982, we moved to Hawaii. At the age of nine, Joy played the part of Dorothy in a local production of the Wizard of Oz. She memorized all of her parts in two days and would prompt the other kids on their parts.

The production was a resounding success and the Schofield Barracks paper wrote a nice article about Joy. Her mom continued to be a wonderful mother to her three children; little Eva was born in 1979. During the last year of our stay in Hawaii, Joy's mom's personality began to change. She was involved in bodybuilding, and I later found out that she had been taking steroids.

We moved back to Fort Rucker, Alabama and within a year, I was a single parent to three broken hearted children. They really missed their mom, Joy especially. This was in April, 1986 when Joy's mom left.

In late 1987, I was honorably discharged from the Army after serving almost 16 years. It was too difficult to be a single parent soldier. We moved back to my home, Blackshear, Georgia, and Joy adjusted and made friends. In early 1987, the Lord had saved me, so much prayer went into my decision to leave the Army. Joy's great sense of humor and intelligence served her well in this move.

I remember clearly the night she came into my room and said, "Daddy, I think I started my period. I need some feminine hygiene products." I hugged her, and said, "Joy, you are not a little girl anymore, you are a young woman." My car was broke down, so on that cold, frosty, star studded night, I walked to town to get what she needed. I cried most of the way there. I had lost my little bundle of Joy; she was growing up. I cried most of all that Joy's mom was not there to share that precious moment in her daughter's life.

During her teenaged years, Joy was attacked by an evil spirit. I kept praying and praying for God to deliver her. She experienced severe anxiety attacks and became hypochondriac. I had to throw away all the medical books because every time she would read them, she would fear she was dying. Finally, after three years of much prayer and fasting, and spiritual battles, Jesus delivered her.

Because of her torment, Joy missed many days of school when she was a senior. Her grades were above average, but her absences were many. In April, she dropped out of high school. I was really upset and prayed to the Lord about Joy. He spoke these words to me, "Irvin, who does Joy belong to?" I said, "Why Lord, I guess she belongs to you." He replied, "Don't you think that I love her more than you?" When He spoke these words, I experienced immediate peace as I turned Joy over to the one who had died for her. Three days later, she dropped back in school. At her graduation, I think she was the happiest one there. She knew she had barely made it.

Before Joy's class of '92 graduation ceremony, I went out in the field and prayed and asked the Lord to make this day a memorable one for Joy. As soon as the class marched out (it was dusk), a huge shooting star streaked across the sky. Everybody oohed and watched in awe. I just smiled and whispered, "Thank you, Lord."

After graduation, Joy worked some, and then was married. She gave birth to a beautiful son, Dusty. After a while, this marriage broke up and Joy remarried. This marriage, too, broke up. Both were primarily because of spousal abuse involving the use of drugs and alcohol (not on Joy's part).

During all her trials, Joy was a good mother to her son. He, too, was very intelligent and witty. Joy completed technical school during these ordeals and worked outside the home as a job coach.

In early January, 2003, Joy moved to England, leaving Dusty behind. She had met someone on the internet and despite my strong objections decided to go ahead over there and marry.

I struggled with this as Dusty would call me from his Dad's (Dusty does have a good Dad) and ask me to pray for him because he missed his mommy so much. I took all of this to the Lord in prayer, and he said, "Irvin, remember when Joy dropped out of high school, and I told you she belongs to me? Well, she still does. Trust me."

I love Joy so dearly. She has suffered much adversity in her life, but I know that weeping may endure for the night but Joy cometh in the morning.

Luke 15.18 "I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."

This was written in May 2003. Today is March 3, 2005. Joy and her husband David are still living in Westbury, England. They have a one year old son, Joshuha. Joy and her family came last summer, and Dusty met his new brother. Joy calls Dusty every day and she recently told me that her and David and Josh are moving back near me. They have already started the paperwork. David is a great husband to Joy and a good father. Pray the Lord would work out all the details for them. I talked to her yesterday and I do miss her. She is my firstborn.

Irvin L. Rozier