Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. (Genesis 31.27 NASB95)
 

Oh that Laban’s claim could be true! Jacob well knew the heart of his father in law for it was a reflection of his own deceitful soul. Laban should have sent Jacob away with joy, but he could not; he would not. Laban’s ability to experience joy and indeed to share joy was eliminated by his own self-centered, self-justifying, set-interested mindset. Laban’s pursuit of Jacob was not out of grief, but greed. If it had not been for God’s intervention, Laban would have used force to restore to himself treasure he wrongly believed to be his. Laban was Jealous of God’s blessing on Jacob. Laban was envious of Jacob’s family, his abundance, his sons and servants. Even though Jacob labored and earned all that he possessed, Laban still claimed ownership of all God had graciously provided to Jacob (See Genesis 31.43). Laban was a slave to his appetites and incapable of either causing or experiencing true joy.

Inasmuch as I am like Laban, I am also incapable of expressing joy, of sharing joy, of being connected to joy in any manner.

So, for the sake of joy, I must choose to lay down selfish ambition, petty jealousies, and perceived ownership over what does not belong to me and celebrate the good that I see.

I believe joy is worth it.