Finding Joy

There are many things that affect our happiness.  The list is actually quite long and unique for each of us.

It seems that we are tossed to and fro by the circumstances of life; these circumstances thrusting us either toward joy or away from it.  Circumstances.  Are we defined by our circumstances or is our character strong enough to surpass the circumstances and shine through no matter what?

How can we deal with the changing elements of our lives without being dramatically tossed about?  How can we have an emotional consistency that remains unaffected?  This is something to be considered.

I would encourage you to take some time to write out a list of things that you think contribute to your happiness. You know that I will do this before the next post, because I love lists. Actually, they do help me sort through things.

When you've finished your list go back through that list and ask yourself, "What is absolutely necessary in my life for my happiness?"  Cross any things off the list that you don't view as MUST HAVES.

Take a few days to think over what is left on your list. Don't be afraid to ask yourself some tough questions to make sure that you agree with your list.

As we both walk through this process, I hope that we will find out what is important to us and learn together how to bring greater stability to our joy and happiness.

The Simple Things

I received a card from my Grandmother a few years ago; on the cover of the card it read,
"The best things in Life aren't things."

Oh, so true!

But, oddly, sometimes we act like those PEOPLE around us that are the best things in life, need to be pushed aside/put off because someTHING is demanding our attention.

I was truly blessed this past week by some tender little moments with those in my life that aren't things:

Cuddling on the couch with 2 little boys, reading books together.  They give their love so richly and fully; freely, uninhibited.  Life doesn't get much better!

Getting an earful from daughter #1 about what she is discovering about life and herself.  A friend, sharing her heart, willing to risk her thoughts to my ears.  Life doesn't get much better!

Laughter from a tired daughter #2 who has lost her voice due to a cold.  The smile, the joy, the fun.  Life doesn't get much better!

"Hi Mom."  on the phone from son #1 who is away at school.  A little sputtering and ho humming and sharing what's going on in his life.  Life doesn't get much better!

The cracking voice of 13 year old son #2 saying "Yes, ma'am" in earnest, wanting to please and be helpful.  Such a small thing set in the huge setting of a boy turning into a man, yet having a tender heart toward his mama.  Life doesn't get much better!

Watching 'Castle' with daughter #3, enjoying the suspense together (or at least her enjoying me being full of suspense).  Laughing together, being together, living life together.  Her looks that say, "Oh, mother, I'll take you as you are and laugh with you as well as at you."  Life doesn't get much better!

Snuggling with the warmth of MH on the cold nights, knowing that he loves me and wants to live life together with me, working out the challenges and obstacles and seeking to grow in life and love... cemented.  Life doesn't get much better!

Boy, there are challenges, and I find that I must FIGHT for those 'simple things' that are the most important and BEST things in life - the people that I live life with.  For them, I will fight to keep what's important, important - for them and for me.

These are the simple things that create a world filled with joy.

Hope

Sometimes the ceaseless toiling that comes with life can become a veil of sorts and dim our vision towards hope.

My oldest daughter said something the other day that has been lingering around in my brain since then, (mom paraphrase) 'We should read things looking for the good/positive/meaningful not the bad/negative/damaging.  If we look for and find the good, we'll remember it.  But if we are looking for the bad, we will only remember the bad for it will overshadow the good.'

We were speaking of reading material, but isn't life like that as well?

There is so much positive, if we are looking for it.  But if our antennae is up to locate the negative, guess what we'll locate?  And when we locate the negative, many times it 'veils' the positive.

And hope diminishes.

 "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."  Romans 15:13

This is a verse that generates power into my heart, power to hope, power to be filled with hope - because God is a God of hope who gives us the power of the Holy Spirit.  This instills the joy and peace in my journey.

I can walk out of the veil of toiling and into the joy of living.

I do pray that I will not get caught in the veil, that my face will be up-turned, basking in the Sonshine that emanates from His glory and love.  Becoming filled with that peace and joy in basking, then radiating that heat energy into the lives of those around me.  The positive life-joy that comes from lingering in Him, the great hope Giver.