Choosing Joy - So Unlike Me

Well, let's get the complaining out of the way so we can go ahead and get to the point (we will have a point that is much better than complaining).

This week has been hard. That's the only way to describe it. Why, you ask? (I always enjoy imagining that you are asking the questions I want to answer)

Well, let's see...

We helped a good friend deal with the 1 year anniversary of her husband's death (this past year has been hellish for her). The next day was the 6-month anniversary of Mom's passing and I just sank - knowing that more time would continue to get between me and the last time I hugged her and not knowing how much time is ahead before I see her again. I found out about a truly tragic death of a young person in one part of my family. I found out that somebody who was a big part of my growing up in Christ has advanced colon cancer with a fatal prognosis. Charles and I took a hard hit to our marriage (we'll be fine - we have support and a plan). God decided that this was the week to rip the cover off the last huge sin stronghold in my life - the one thing I thought I could continue to hide. Last night I found out that an aunt (in another branch of my family that had a sudden death a few weeks ago) had two strokes (at quite a young age) and I don't know how she is doing. Drama and hurt continues with some other family members and I am powerless to do anything to stop it.

*sigh*

It sometimes seems like too much to take in. I know I don't have it the worst, but having had a melancholy personality since I was tiny, it sometimes seems like it is my lot in life to mourn. The Bible describes the Messiah as being a man of sorrows (Isaiah 53). I always thought that meant He was melancholy like me. I'm beginning to question that now. I'm beginning to see that it might be possible for life to heap sorrows upon you without a you having to be melancholy or outright depressed.

What would cause me to question something that is pretty much foundation for my life?

Five Minute Friday - Joy

Today's Five Minute Friday is a little bit different than the usual. It is special because the group of friends that gathers over at the Gypsy Mama for FMF is getting ready to send a good friend back to the Lord. Her body is failing her, but her spirit is so ready to join Jesus. And we are happy for that. Please, please go over and read a little bit about Sara. She is an amazing person who has filled many people's lives with joy.

So here's how it goes:

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.

2. Link back here and invite others to join in.

3. Go a little overboard encouraging the writer who linked up before you.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

Joy…

(gratuitous pic of my nephew who brings me joy!)

Start:


The first thing that comes to my mind right now are all the different songs that have the line "The joy of the Lord is my strength" in them. One is rattling around in my head right this minute. What a beautiful thing to have guiding me in the wee-small hours of a morning. 


I think how lucky I am that I am finding community (most of it online right now, but God will take care of the "in person" too) that understand the joy of going home to the Father. How happy I was six months ago when Mama passed away that she got to be with her Savior. A little jealous - I'm longing for heaven too, but it's not my turn. 


Another memory that just came to me was riding on the "Joy Bus" when I was little. We would go pick up kids whose parents where not going to take them to church. We fed them doughnuts and milk. And we sang all the way. The song I remember singing most on the Joy Bus went, "love is something if you give it away - you end up having more". Thank you, Mom and Dad, for making sure I had those memories and an upbringing in the Lord.


Joy is something deep that comes from the Lord. I wish I remembered more often to hook into it instead of getting all caught up in worldly cares. I'm going to have to take Sara's advice and "choose joy". She will live on in  many people that way.


STOP


So that is my five minutes. Won't you please join us over at the Gypsy Mama? There will many five-minute posts to read  about joy. What a wonderful subject to start the weekend with!