Baby Yoda and bright dahlia flowers. Farmer’s markets and fields of wild flowers. Berries and lemons. Cozy beds and long naps. Rain and gentle storms. Hot tea, writing, and photography. Online shopping, baking, cool nights and Christmas lights. Tacos, salsa, the smell of gunpowder and fresh homemade bread. Music, home-cooking and date nights. Spending time with my favorite teenagers. A clean house, sleeping baby, and calm puppy. These are a few of my favorite things. These things make me happy. But I don’t want to just be happy. The very definition of “happy” or “happiness” is such a shallow one: 1: favored by luck or fortune : FORTUNATE 1a: a state of well-being and contentment : JOY b: a pleasurable or satisfying experience 2: PROSPERITY I can think of things that make me happy. All the previously mentioned things and then some make me happy, but if all those things were taken away, would there still be joy? If my perceived favor, fortune, or prosperity was gone, then by its very definition, so would my happiness. I would, for obvious reasons, be unhappy. But, would I still possess joy? Happiness and joy are not interchangeable. If there is one thing this year has taught us, it is that life can go from calm and consistent to crazy and unpredictable in a moment's notice. What is your response when all your drains back up, your bathroom drains overflow into the three conjoining rooms, your laundry floods, there are swarms of bugs everywhere, your house reeks due to the smell, your car is broken for the ___ time, there's water coming from the ceiling, more bills than you have money for, you're sick but can't afford not to work, and/or your favorite flavor lunchable is not what you find in your lunch. You may have legitimate and an overwhelming amount of problems in front of you, but you can still have joy. I find joy in everyday, not because life is good, but because God is. I love my husband, and some moments just emphasize why. Graduation 2020. That's enough in itself. When everything was over, the kid needed changed. Jack took her to get her changed while I talked to some families. After a great deal of screaming and a few minutes pass, I hear a concerned call for help. I should add a disclaimer in here that he does really well with her. ;) Apparently in the process, she exploded and more diapers and clothes were needed. Finally she was clean and in the only (mostly matching) extra outfit we had. "At least we had extra clothes and she's all good now." Not 30 seconds after she was all situated with her bow atop her head, somewhat calm, and ready to move on, she spit up... everywhere. Without saying anything we both looked at her, then at each other, then just started laughing. Those are, "Oh well" moments. There is joy when everything goes wrong. One of the sweetest, most joyful families I have known at the time were raising three young children, two of which had a disease that is fatal. I remember listening to the parents talk once as we were at their house. The exact conversation, I don't remember, but this was the essence of it. "We have been in countless hospitals and met many sick people. Doctors will echo this truth. Most of those wo are actually sick, have life-threatening diseases, or are in pain are some of the happiest people. By comparison, those who are sad, mopey, grumpy, bitter, complain about being sick all the time, and just in general unpleasant to be around are not really sick." If you think about that one for a while, it's quite accurate. There is joy in being sick. Some people are so passionate about hating snow. Let's be honest, I'm not a fan of the cold. Growing up in Kansas, we had our fair share of the frigid temperatures, but that doesn't make them hurt any less. However, there is still something to love about freshly fallen snow in your front yard. Whether that's October, January, or May (and yes, we've had snowstorms in May/June before), you can enjoy it. "If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you'll have less joy in your life but the same amount of snow." You can find joy in the snow. When life gives you lemons... well, Sweet just isn't as sweet without the sour, and a little lemon juice makes everything taste better.God is greater than your highs and lows. God is sovereign. God knows exactly where you are at and what your facing, even if no one else in the world is aware. Joy is a direct fruit of being right with God and in His presence. "...in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." Ps. 16.11 "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubles, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a rive, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." - Ps. 46 No matter the state of the world, how painful your situation is, whether or not there is toilet paper at the store, there's a freak snowstorm outside, or who wins the election, you can choose joy. The most joyful people are not those whose life goes exactly as they expect, but rather those who choose to find joy in the most unexpected places. When you have the joy of the Lord in your heart, you can find joy in some pretty strange places... like funerals of infants, goodbyes, doctor offices, financial pressures, or plumbing problems. You may put on the biggest smile all day long, but at the end of the day when you go home and lay in bed, how is your heart? Are you faking joy when deep inside you are miserable, broken, hurting, angry…? Trying to manufacture an off-brand version of joy is impossible and exhausting, and sooner or later – if not already – you will no longer be able to uphold that “joy” you are creating. Are you allowing others to dictate your joy through opinions, expectations, or approval? Are you allowing situations of life to steal your joy away? Or, are you giving away your joy to bitterness, anger, discontentment, unmet expectations, fear, the unknown, or pride? We must each evaluate our own lives and determine what we are allowing to govern our attitudes, emotions, perspective, and day-to-day choices. Are you living seeking and holding onto the happiness of the world, or are you spending each day walking and resting in the joy of the Lord? Share the "strange places" where you find joy.
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Lizzy parkerMarriage.
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January 2023
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