Walking the Passage: I come from Laughter... November 2..... Day 2 of The Joy Challenge

Saturday, November 2, 2013

I come from Laughter... November 2..... Day 2 of The Joy Challenge

So in the light of the joy challenge my mind and thoughts and heart started to think about the things that matter.... My son loves this tree that is in the front yard... My son loves when I sit on the stoop with him and just watch him play.... there aren't better moments .. or could there be....

I think it is amazing that while most trees in our neighborhood have lost their leaves this tree continues to shine forth it's color and brilliance. It's yellows and oranges are immense. Thinking of joy made me think of this tree and thinking of this tree made me think of the joy it would give my youngest if I climbed it with them... and so yup I did just that... AND IT WAS AWESOME!!!

I love the way this tree has arrived this Fall... It brings me great joy when I drive up towards our home.. and see it's amazing colors.

And I love words and quotes and expressions that make you pause and wonder.. Noteworthy sayings and truths that one feels richer after meditating upon the phrase....

So today.. November 2.. My two joys are 1)celebrating Fall and my youngest two kids by laying on the grass and gazing up at the sky and 2) looking at words that cause my soul to be stretched and grown...

Because as I said we are not ever limited to the moments of joy created.. I have to admit there have been more moments of joy in the last two hours of this morning than I think my heart can contain... This goes into proving a thought that I had.... That as one plants one seed of joy one thousand pop up and two seeds of joy created ten thousands of moments..... They begin to create a flow of life and atmosphere where Holy Spirit can come and dwell... Gratitude and joy begin to overflow and amidst whatever the day may or may not bring we are made strong... For the joy of our God.. the joy of our Lord will carry us and lift us up into a life of strength and beauty and wonder and awe....

3) Hearing Greg and Elizabeth's voice early in the morning as they talk to one another and giggle and converse upon matters to great for adults..

4) Watching the sun rise from my sofa.. watching it come up and light up our fiery red and orange tree
5) You would have to know my son, Gregory's passion for all things office supplies to appreciate this but this morning as he came and sat down upon the sofa right next to me, he was holding two pens. "Do you want one mom?" He asked... I looked at him, knowing that to him he was offering me pure gold. "You really want me to have one?' I asked. "Yes, mom." Was his reply. Pure gold. Pure joy.
6) Having felt distant from our 13 year old daughter I pushed into the early morning and opened her door and got into bed with her... As she awoke her expression was concerning the beauty of the surprise of my presence. I expressed that I had missed her. And we laid in bed together and I got to hear all about her school and her friends and I got to pray over her and thank God for her.
7)Being me... Today I am just taking a moment of joy to be glad to get to be me.. with all my insanity.. and all my lack.. all my inability to keep a clean house or order the days the way I would want...Today I am taking a moment to take joy in the fact that I am overcoming fear in ways that I never thought I would... Today I am taking a moment to agree with God that I am all together beautiful without spot or blemish and in me there is a good thing found. Yes... Today.. I take the joy challenge and it begins in my home.. with me.. with the kids.. with creation.. with beauty.. with Jesus (I got accused recently of not saying His name enough... ) Lol... Hey, I can hear all sorts of feedback and glean that which I am supposed to glean... Today I am joyful not based on circumstances or situations.. My joy is not birthed forth from this world... I will make expressions of joy into the world but the world will not dictate to me the reality of my joy.....

Be joyful today... I pray for purposeful moments of joy into your day.. At least two of them for today.. but may they flow deep and in abundance....

1 comment:

Eydie said...: THANK YOU!!! This is truly and about Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory!! "AWESOME""; November 2, 2013 at 6:13 AM

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One of my Favorite Narnian Quotes...

“One word, Ma’am,” he said, coming back from the fire; limping because of the pain. “One word. All you’ve been saying is quite right, I shouldn’t wonder. I’m a chap who always liked to know the worst and then put the best face I can on it. So I won’t deny any of what you said, even so. Suppose we have only dreamed, or made up, all those things – trees and grass and sun and moon and stars and Aslan himself. Suppose we have. Then all I can say is that, in that case, the made-up things seem a good deal more important than the real ones. Suppose this black pit of a kingdom of yours is the only world. Well, it strikes me as a pretty poor one. And that’s a funny thing, when you come to think of it. We’re just babies making up a game, if you’re right. But four babies playing a game can make a play-world that makes you real world hollow. That’s why I’m going to stand by the play-world. I’m on Aslan’s side even if there isn’t any Narnia. So, thanking you kindly for our supper, if these two gentlemen and the young lady are ready, we’re leaving your court at once and setting out in the dark to spend our lives looking for the Overland.

A Brilliant Quote from Marianne Williamson

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,

but that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?"

Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There is nothing enlightening about shrinking

so that others won't feel unsure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It is not just in some of us; it is in every one.

As we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.