Joy in the Journey

I’m back!

I’ve had a GOOD break from blogging over the holidays. A much needed one, actually. Things ended up being so busy that it was clear that taking a break was what God had in mind for me!

At the beginning of a new year, I always take a second to “rethink” what I’m doing, why I’m doing it, and what I where I want to go with life… this blog included.

As I thought of what I wanted the focus to be for my blogging, a phrase kept coming to mind. One I’ve probably said before on here.

You’ll find it on my newly, homemade blog header (a work in progress… I do NOT claim to be any type of webdesigner!).

I want my blog… and really my books as well, to be about finding joy in the journey of life.

It’s one thing God’s really been teaching me lately.

It’s why the whole “do what makes you happy” motto I blogged about a few weeks ago irked me.

Because life is full of unexpected highs and devestating lows. Many of them are completely unavoidable and just part of the course that is “life.”

No. Joy is not about “doing” something that makes you happy.

It’s about finding joy in the life you’ve been given. It’s about searching out for that pearl of beauty in life that can make you smile, and clutching it for all you’ve got.

It’s about finding what can make you laugh amidst the pain. Like in a hospital with your child on a ventilator, yet you’re able to smile at a new blanket for her bed or a sign you’ve made for her door. You’re able laugh with the parent in the room next door or joke with a friendly nurse/doctor/respiratory-therapist.

Finding joy in the journey is a choice. You have to actively look for it, seek it, and accept it. It’s about focusing on the good and giving the hurt to God. It’s about embracing a very big God and resting in the fact that even though life seems like it’s one big random, vomit-inducing tilt-a-whirl, God has it all in control and will shelter you with His strong arms if you let Him.

This doesn’t mean you sit in denial. That you ignore the truth of your circumstances. In fact, finding joy many times means that you accept that things are how they are. Acceptance of your situation is the first step in being able to move beyond and find joy.

We just celebrated the birth of the ultimate symbol of joy… a baby boy, God in the flesh, born among the filth of this world. If you can look past the lowly circumstances, you can see the sweetness that is the greatest gift that was ever given.

I held Annabelle in my arms tonight for a moment.

She hasn’t been feeling well the last few days, and as she sighed and snuggled against my shoulder, her small, hurting body pressed against mine, my heart soared.

I turned to Scott and said, “This. This right here is Joy.”

The joy came not from her not feeling well, but from the knowledge that I am blessed to be her mommy and can still snuggle my sweet, special miracle baby to make her feel better. That I can feel her breath against my cheek and can press a kiss to her sweet head.

Some people say that God gives them a “word” for the year in lieu of “New Year’s resolutions.”

I’ve never really participated in that before. I’m more of a “goal” oriented girl.

But I’m thinking that “Joy” is a pretty good word for 2013.

Discussion: What do you see when you look ahead to 2013? Where do you find YOUR joy today?

***note*** The new year brings a few other changes. The biggest one is my quest to keep my priorities straight and be a better wife/mom, not to mention devote more time to my writing. Thus, I’m changing my blogging schedule to 2 times per week, Monday and Thursday. The exception will always be for “special” occasions and urgent prayer requests!