A colt frolicking in a green pasture or a baby's first smile makes us smile—or even laugh out loud. That's joy, the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying.

As an educator I've observed many students who struggled with neglect and abandonment issues, drug abuse and bullying—problems that obviously didn't bring joy to their lives. However, it didn't prevent them from experiencing joy at times in my science class—the joy of discovery.

Science offers a window to God's amazing creation, a source of great wonder—and great joy, one of God's greatest gifts to humanity.

Teaching joy

While studying biology my eighth graders observed painted lady caterpillars cycle from larvae to butterfly. Several of my most challenging students laughed at the idea of the project. They told me it was too childish for an eighth-grade class! Undeterred, I went on with my lesson plan.

The day the caterpillars arrived I required each pair of students to name and observe their caterpillar and record their descriptions. I tried to ignore the doubting students who rolled their eyes in disgust.

Daily we watched the creatures feed and grow. One day excited chatter came from my classroom, with students reporting, "Mrs. Dunkle, they formed the chrysalis!" (that is, the hard skin that develops to serve as a protective outer shell during transformation). Even the skeptical students seemed somewhat intrigued!

Tap-dancing chrysalis

As the last chrysalis formed I had one of my "doubting students" come up to his box. I asked him to very gently touch the chrysalis with the end of his pencil. As he did so, the hardened shell began to tap-dance "rat-tat-tat, rat-tat-tat" along the lid of its container. The young man was startled—then he, I and the whole class began laughing!

"What was that?" So I explained that the jumping or dancing of the chrysalis was an inherited behavior that protected the organism from predators.

"Hmmm, cool." His skepticism wavered as I imagined him thinking that this butterfly project wasn't such a childish idea after all.

Joy released

When the chrysalises began to break open, students' shouts of delight accompanied the somewhat wet and fragile-looking painted lady butterflies delicately beating their wings back and forth to dry and strengthen their thin membranes. My gaze traveled from one student to another as I witnessed the joy of their discovery of the stages of metamorphosis.

Even greater "oohs" and "aahs" came when they observed the butterflies uncurling their long proboscises to drink the sweet nectar mixture we'd provided for them.

Finally, the day came for us to release the now mature painted lady butterflies into the wild from the box borne carefully to our school's soccer field. Very gently peeling back the lid, we held our breath in unison. Suddenly, one butterfly stretched its wings and lifted up into the air, followed by another and then another as simultaneous cheers and laughter from the students accompanied them.

Joy shared

As I scanned my student's faces, gone were the skeptical expressions of a few short weeks before. Instead, I saw understanding and the joy of new knowledge gained. In that moment, I too experienced joy watching my students grow in understanding of God's creation. Their joy became my joy.

God wants all mankind to experience joy. He designed human beings to feel enjoyment as His gift (see Ecclesiastes 3:12; 5:18-19)—and He provides the way for us to rejoice to the full. The Bible lists joy as part of the fruit of God's Holy Spirit (see Galatians 5:22). Jesus Christ said that His disciples would be filled with joy (see John 15:11).

The next time you find yourself overwhelmed with school, work or other challenges in life, stop and think of something that brings great joy to you. Remember, it is a gift from God!