Here is a big question. A really important question that kept me pondering for quite some time. Are you joyful? Now, I am speaking about general terms here. Some days not at all, others yep...but in general, do you experience lots of joy? This is a question that needs some thought. For me, my life was certainly good. I had a kind husband, I had three healthy children, a nice home.... BUT....I was not a joy filled person. Sure, I loved my children, I loved my husband, I had a nice home...etc. You know the drill. But joyful? Full of joy? No. Actually I was rather cranky. Kinda biatchy (pardon my language...that word just fits too well) at times. I have to say, I lived my life like that cause I did not realize something that I realize now. I had control over my joy and if I was not experiencing great joy in general, it was because I was giving it away. Yep. You may be asking, how can a person give their joy away???? Well, I am challenging you to look at it this way.
Do you sometimes let a small thing upset you for hours, days, even weeks? Have you ever gotten really mad at someone and then as time goes by you remain mad at them but when asked why, you have forgotten? Does it shut you down when your children make several changes of clothes in one morning? or how about this... Have you ever had your child say to you after some tyraid, "mommy, you're scaring me!" (yeah, that hurts...I know. I know) Have you ever white knuckled the steering wheel when the person in front of you at a red light does not go immediately (your definition of immediately of course) when it turns green? Or how about this one....have you not allowed your children to play with crayons or maybe play-doh cause it makes too much of a mess. When the points get broken or the colors get mixed...watch out!!! You get the picture right? Now, some of these might be extreme but this is reality for some. I am going to step out of the box and say, everyone reading this said "oh yeah" to at least one of the above listed behaviors. All of these scenarios are what I would call a joy stealer. A kill joy. Each time we allow our emotions to get the better of us, our joy just flies out the window. Now, let's review that last statement. Actually, the we allow portion of it. See that? We have just allowed our joy to be stolen. For me, it was often one step worse...I was just giving it away. A silly moment in my day...poof....gone goes the joy. I have come to learn that there are forces in our world that have the sole objective of killing, stealing and destroying all that is good. The goal is to do one or all three of these things to all that we hold dear. (see John 10:10) This might seem frightening to some. It seemed a bit scary to me at first. However......the only way that anything can be stolen from us, killed, or destroyed is by OUR OWN allowing of this action to take place. Every precious human being (and everyone is precious...see Psalm 139:13-14) has the choice to either fall under the protection of our Creator or not. IF you are one that has decided...yeah.....I do believe in my Creator. You might even say...yeah, I think all this bible stuff is for real and I am willing to take a "walk" to see what it is all about...then guess what my dear friend.....the yucky (technical term) powers that be in this world have NO power over you. You have a protection that comes from the One and Only. The One and Only!!!! Don't believe me? Well, turn to Psalm 91:14-16. Did ya read it? Go ahead. Great...huh. I love that. What comfort it gives me. ( for those that do not have a bible, I would encourage you to put it on your list of must haves. For now though, if you put that verse into goggle, it will come up for you.) Now, knowing that this protection is for us, that still does not erase that fact that the evil one is out there trying to get us to stumble. He wants to steal our joy. He wants to get us all worked up. He wants to get our focus off the warm, fuzzy, squishy stuff and on the yucky, frustrated, bitter, grouchy stuff. Don't let him. I did for years. What joy I now have. What joy I keep. I realized that I am in the arms of a protector. The only way my joy leaves me is if I toss it away or allow it to be stolen. In closing, our enemy knows we can't be touched but he keeps at us. Do WE know he can't touch us unless we let him? Selah.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
So many interruptions!!!
Ok by dear friends...this one might hurt so get your big girl pants on.
How many of us get sooooo frustrated with the numerous interruptions that plague our day? Yes, yes, we all get interrupted from our course of actions throughout the day but the kind I am speaking about is the ones from our children. Also, maybe for some, interruptions come from our husbands. In general, do you see these "calls for our attention on any given subject" as an interruption or a opportunity to show our love? Ouch. I know which one I'd say they were. Yuck. YUCK!! The time when our kids are little beings that think we are the center of everything (besides themselves of course), is so short. It really is. It may not seem like it but in reality, it is. It seems so easy, natural and quick for us to go to that place of "WHAT!!" or maybe "NOW WHAT!!" or how about "(heavy sigh) WHAT DOOOO YOU WANT?!" For me, this kind of oh-so- loving behavior seems to rear its ugly head when I am either experiencing a certain time of the month and/or when I am in the middle of something I enjoy most or in the middle of something I hate doing. Well, that kind of covers a lot of time huh. Again, yuck. What to do about this????
Well, for me, I just assumed this is how it went. The day was just about trying to get through it without killin' someone. (maybe this is overstating it a bit but you know what I mean) Keeping in mind, deep down I kind of thought, this CAN'T be how it is supposed to be. This is how I was mothered so I thought it must come to me naturally, to be this way. However, I know fellow moms who do not have this type of mothering as their example but they find themselves doing it too. I think that our natural selfishness, our core "it's all about me" ness, is what this is really all about. Oh great!! Now what!!?? Y'all know what I'm going to say...right? This is what made/makes the difference for me...
Once my walk of faith started, once I came to understand a little about what having a walk with God really looked like...what it REALLY meant, this was the turning point for me. In God's word, it is told to us in black and white, what not to do. He even tells us why we should not behave certain ways. Now, my thoughts were this....if God is describing ways that little ol' me behaves, must be others have these same issues too! Wow...it's not just me? Ok then. Also, it proves to me that God already knows my "stuff" and if he knows my "stuff" then maybe when he tells me to bring them to him cause he can help...maybe he can. I have found that our Lord....wants us to bring all that yuck to him. He can touch our hearts in places that are so raw, hurting, and hidden, with such healing powers. Some times it is a hurt that is really big. REALLY BIG...like abandonment or abuse. Often it is a hurt that is so everyday...like feeling as if you are a bad mom after you lose your temper for the 100th time. He has given me such grace. He has shown me that when I do this "WHAT NOW" thing to my kids, that at the root of that is really selfishness and pride. Oh...gross. I get upset when MY day is changed because a child once again needs my attention. I get mad when I am not able to complete a task from start to finish. I get frustrated and huffy when my husband interrupts MY morning cause he forgot something and now I need to bring it to him. - If you noticed, I said I or me quite a few times there. Once I started to let God love me. Once I started to understand and really believe that the Word of God was true...for me...then I was able to get at the root of what caused my crazy freak-outs whenever I was interrupted. Allowing the Lord to get at this part of my heart has made me a much better mother. Not by my own strength mind you, but by His grace. I realize how "churchy" that sounds but it is so true. I often find myself at a place of getting really frustrated with the daily grind of interruptions but now I know what to do. I immediately go to Him. I now can stop myself before I do more damage. I can love on my children during these interruptions. I can show them love and understanding. I can show them from a wee age that they matter. The fact that they need me is actually a blessing. THEY are a blessing.
Hear what I am NOT saying. I am not saying that I am great at this whole thing. Oh no. Not even close. I am better. I am more patient, more understanding, more loving. I am more content when my schedule does not go as planned. It is a process, a walk that each of us needs to go on. The freedom, the joy, the contentment is indescribable. In closing, one thing that might be happening if you find yourself frustrated by all the interruptions is your plate is too full!! Somethings have to go my dear friend. Sometimes the things that have to go are good things. Maybe great things. But now I have started on another post topic. To be continued!!
How many of us get sooooo frustrated with the numerous interruptions that plague our day? Yes, yes, we all get interrupted from our course of actions throughout the day but the kind I am speaking about is the ones from our children. Also, maybe for some, interruptions come from our husbands. In general, do you see these "calls for our attention on any given subject" as an interruption or a opportunity to show our love? Ouch. I know which one I'd say they were. Yuck. YUCK!! The time when our kids are little beings that think we are the center of everything (besides themselves of course), is so short. It really is. It may not seem like it but in reality, it is. It seems so easy, natural and quick for us to go to that place of "WHAT!!" or maybe "NOW WHAT!!" or how about "(heavy sigh) WHAT DOOOO YOU WANT?!" For me, this kind of oh-so- loving behavior seems to rear its ugly head when I am either experiencing a certain time of the month and/or when I am in the middle of something I enjoy most or in the middle of something I hate doing. Well, that kind of covers a lot of time huh. Again, yuck. What to do about this????
Well, for me, I just assumed this is how it went. The day was just about trying to get through it without killin' someone. (maybe this is overstating it a bit but you know what I mean) Keeping in mind, deep down I kind of thought, this CAN'T be how it is supposed to be. This is how I was mothered so I thought it must come to me naturally, to be this way. However, I know fellow moms who do not have this type of mothering as their example but they find themselves doing it too. I think that our natural selfishness, our core "it's all about me" ness, is what this is really all about. Oh great!! Now what!!?? Y'all know what I'm going to say...right? This is what made/makes the difference for me...
Once my walk of faith started, once I came to understand a little about what having a walk with God really looked like...what it REALLY meant, this was the turning point for me. In God's word, it is told to us in black and white, what not to do. He even tells us why we should not behave certain ways. Now, my thoughts were this....if God is describing ways that little ol' me behaves, must be others have these same issues too! Wow...it's not just me? Ok then. Also, it proves to me that God already knows my "stuff" and if he knows my "stuff" then maybe when he tells me to bring them to him cause he can help...maybe he can. I have found that our Lord....wants us to bring all that yuck to him. He can touch our hearts in places that are so raw, hurting, and hidden, with such healing powers. Some times it is a hurt that is really big. REALLY BIG...like abandonment or abuse. Often it is a hurt that is so everyday...like feeling as if you are a bad mom after you lose your temper for the 100th time. He has given me such grace. He has shown me that when I do this "WHAT NOW" thing to my kids, that at the root of that is really selfishness and pride. Oh...gross. I get upset when MY day is changed because a child once again needs my attention. I get mad when I am not able to complete a task from start to finish. I get frustrated and huffy when my husband interrupts MY morning cause he forgot something and now I need to bring it to him. - If you noticed, I said I or me quite a few times there. Once I started to let God love me. Once I started to understand and really believe that the Word of God was true...for me...then I was able to get at the root of what caused my crazy freak-outs whenever I was interrupted. Allowing the Lord to get at this part of my heart has made me a much better mother. Not by my own strength mind you, but by His grace. I realize how "churchy" that sounds but it is so true. I often find myself at a place of getting really frustrated with the daily grind of interruptions but now I know what to do. I immediately go to Him. I now can stop myself before I do more damage. I can love on my children during these interruptions. I can show them love and understanding. I can show them from a wee age that they matter. The fact that they need me is actually a blessing. THEY are a blessing.
Hear what I am NOT saying. I am not saying that I am great at this whole thing. Oh no. Not even close. I am better. I am more patient, more understanding, more loving. I am more content when my schedule does not go as planned. It is a process, a walk that each of us needs to go on. The freedom, the joy, the contentment is indescribable. In closing, one thing that might be happening if you find yourself frustrated by all the interruptions is your plate is too full!! Somethings have to go my dear friend. Sometimes the things that have to go are good things. Maybe great things. But now I have started on another post topic. To be continued!!
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