Pure Joy

This morning my boys were getting ready for school and then ended up chasing each other around the house for some reason or another.  I was just about to stop the madness when, they both collapsed on the rug in a fit of giggles.

I honestly think my favorite sound in the world is a child’s laughter.   The guttural belly laughs that come from a silly moment.  This morning I figured out why……

This moment cannot be produced.   We all can laugh and giggle, but the pure belly laugh is perfect.    It is in this moment, their eyes are shining with joy, their head is back, their mouth is open, and joy pours out of their body.   Now, let’s all be real here.   This moment is about 5 seconds.  But, it is pure joy.

This is my devotion from earlier this week:  It reminds me of the pure joy that we can find in our own relationship with Christ:

COME TO ME, and rest in My Peace. My Face is shining upon you, in rays of Peace transcending understanding. Instead of trying to figure things out yourself, you can relax in the Presence of the One who knows everything. As you lean on Me in trusting dependence, you feel peaceful and complete. This is how I designed you to live: in close communion with Me. When you are around other people, you tend to cater to their expectations—real or imagined. You feel enslaved to pleasing them, and your awareness of My Presence grows dim. Your efforts to win their approval eventually exhaust you. You offer these people dry crumbs rather than the living water of My Spirit flowing through you. This is not My way for you! Stay in touch with Me, even during your busiest moments. Let My Spirit give you words of grace as you live in the Light of My Peace.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." PHILIPPIANS 4 : 6 – 7

“Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” JOHN 7 : 38
 

From:  Young, Sarah (2004-10-12). Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (p. 338). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Juggling…..

Juggling……I am not a professional.

We had family pictures taken this past week. I am talking ALL of the family.  It is going to be a present for my parent’s 40th wedding anniversary so it was my family, my sister’s family, and the proud grandparents.

At one point my boys found some crab apples and the photographer asked them to try and juggle them.   They were running around throwing the balls and balls were flying allover the place they were laughing and totally giving up! At one point our photographer said, “ Stick with it….you got to commit!”.  

Don’t you feel like this rings true to our lives?  

I have always enjoyed the balance of work and family but then you add school, friends, children’s activates, date nights, etc……the balance can get all out of wack!  But you have to “Stick with it…you got to commit!”   You have to have a rhythm to juggle successfully.

The lives that we lead are a lot like juggling balls, you are going to drop one or two, you might even just drop them all, but there is no shame in it.  You have committed and you will pick them up and start the juggling act again.   I am just glad that we were juggling balls that bounce and not places that shatter.  J   I find the joy in juggling, joy in that rhythm.  I mean have you ever met a grumpy juggler?  When the balls all drop and I am bending over to get them, I know others are around me giggling and helping me get our rhythm back. 

That is the joy of living in a faith community.  Having others around you when you need them.   So, you need to laugh today?   Sit down with a friend, your kids, your partner and watch this video.  It will not change your life…..but it will make you laugh!!!