Page 6 of With All My Heart, Joy

His lips curled, the universal expression of distaste. “What is your generation’s deal with technology?”

“Yourgeneration introduced it to us.”

He tipped his head “Touché. I’ll say no more. Next item, regular exercise. It sounds like you’re already doing this, but I want you to be intentional and consistent.” He paused for emphasis, his look one that could only be called devious. “Even if it’s a walk through the mall.”

Joy’s mouth dropped open. “I like the way you think! Your daughter has trained you well.”

His laughter was silent, his head shaking with chagrin. “Moving on with another thing, at the end of each day, I want you to make a value statement. It can be verbal, or you can write it.” His eyes rolled heavenward. “Or type it in your phone.”

Joy grinned. He was catching on.

“At any rate, you state ‘I matter because…’ and insert the reason. For example, and I’m saying this for myself, I matter because my daughter needs me. See? It can be anything, but please give this some thought every day.” He waited for Joy’s fingers to stop typing. “How are we doing?”

She scanned the tidy list she’d typed. “So far so good. All doable.”

“Good. This next one might be a bit outside your comfort level.”

Joy straightened in the chair, her heart doing a little hiccup. She was so comfortable in this office with this counselor that she didn’t want tothinkof something uncomfortable. “What’s that?”

He leveled his eyes at her. “I want you to do a daily check-in with a family member or close friend. Someone you can be honest with every day about how you’re doing.”

Joy scrubbed both hands over her face, not caring if she smeared her impeccably applied makeup. Her entire family wouldlovea daily check-in. But she couldn’t handle the pressure. Not when she had so much pressure online.

“And I’d like to know today who that person is going to be,” Isaac said in that special tone of voice.

Joy slouched forward, her posture deplorable, but who cared? She didn’t have online viewers to wow. “You’re not going to let me off the hook on this, are you?”

He gave an adamant shake of his head. “This really should be number one. Since I can’t be there for you every day, I view having a confidant as the most important part of our counseling plan at this stage. But I needed to ease into it for you.”

How had he figured her out so fast? Joy took a slow breath, forcing her spine straight with the same willpower that had built her an online following of two hundred thousand Instagram followers and over five hundred thousand subscribers to her lifestyle vlog. The numbers on her other channels and platforms weren’t shabby, either. “Okay. I’ll be checking in with Lucy each day.”

“Is she the sibling you’re closest to?”

“No. That would be my oldest brother. But he doesn’t live here.”

“What’s his name?”

“Victor.”

“You can check in with him by phone if you prefer. Most of your check-ins will probably be via text or phone call anyway.”

Joy rubbed at the worry trying to gnaw a hole in her throat. “I’ll stick with Lucy.”

“You look concerned.” Goodness, he read straight through her. “Is something wrong with Victor?”

“I—I don’t know.” Her voice quivered, and she looked away. “But I think so.”

“I see.” A sound of frustration huffed in Mr. Miller’s throat. “We’re out of time, Joy. I can tell we’ll have lots to talk about next time. But before you go, do you mind if I close out this session with prayer? This is a Christian counseling center, but I always leave prayer optional for my clients.”

“Oh, please do.” She needed all the prayer she could get.

Mr. Miller bowed his head. “Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing Joy to my office today. Help my simple words and theories bring a blessing into her life, let us together restore her joy, and keep her safe and close to you each and every day. In your name I ask these things, Amen.”

Joy blinked rapidly at the beautiful prayer. Isaac Miller was a very good man. Just as Lucy had said.

“Let me check my schedule and figure out when I can see you again.” He was already up and moving briskly to his desk where he jiggled a mouse to wake up the desktop computer. “Hmm… How about next week on Friday? Same time?”

Joy jumped to her feet. “Not your lunch break again, Mr. Miller. I don’t feel right—”

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