{Day 26} Your thoughts on JOY

Blogging has been a wonderful tool for me. {I think I already mentioned this a few days ago!} It's been great to connect with so many like-minded women through the blog world. A few days ago when I posted the giveaway I asked each of you to write what brings you joy. I was thrilled with the responses from all of you - whether you are wives and mothers or even if you aren't, many women responded with great things about living a JOY filled life.

So today I wanted to share what all of you wrote. I think your responses are so wonderful and worth sharing. Many of you shared things that I hadn't even thought of! So THANK YOU for being willing to share on here and please enjoy these great responses from some fantastic friends.

Sarah said: Something that helps me choose joy is MUSIC!! I loooove making music, and starting the day playing guitar songs at the table while the kids are having breakfast totally gets me going for the day! Or ending the day with some time at the piano and the kids dance around me is just the best to me. And of course I always have the radio playing to KLOVE in the car.

Christina Said: Choosing to be joyful is a challenge for me and so I have learned from your posts. One thing I have found that helps me to be joyful as a wife and mother is to meditate on where my life would be and what I would be doing if I were single or childless. Although there are days when I picture myself at Starbucks in a trendy outfit ;) most days I realize that I would be instead pining for the life that I actually have now. That girl would kick me repeatedly for not enjoying this life that I have. So I choose to be joyful in it!


Laura said: Choosing to be joyful is not always easy. I have struggled with not being joyful in the life God has given me because I never wanted to be a mom. I am not living my dream life. Every morning I have to choose to be joyful because I KNOW I am blessed beyond words and God will give me the joy, the strength, and the desire to do what I need to do everyday. James 1:2 has been a staple in my daily walk "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when facing various trials." No matter what I'm facing on a day-to-day basis (and even in those unexpected events), I have joy because I have the Lord.

Amy said: I find myself so much more joyful as a mom when i remember how quickly the days are passing. I want to cherish every minute!

Hope said: For me, choosing joy has more to do with my time in the Lord's presence and in His Word than anything else. It also has to do with surrendering my natural tendencies to Him and choosing obedience. The more I am enjoying my precious Savior, feeding on His Word, and then walking in fellowship with Him, the more the joy comes. Keeping that time a priority has always been a struggle for me. There are always a million tasks that call for my attention. I also hate getting up early. I have lots of excuses/reasons to stay in bed and catch those extra zzz's, but what a difference being with the Lord makes.

Jessica said: I choose joy when I stop and consciously give thanks for the blessings I have been given. Reading your blog and about your 1000 gifts project has taught me a lot about that, as well as Proverbs 30:8-9. I tend to get bummed about about money a lot (that's my biggest source of discontentment right now) and I keep that verse in mind often. God has faithfully and consistently provided just enough for us to live "in the middle," and I try to see it as a blessing rather than the curse that my brain can twist it around to feel like.

Darcie said: I choose joy daily...every morning I get up and choose joy in my life. I am grateful for my life, my family and my God. I receive innumerable amounts of joy from His word--studying and delving deeper into it as often as I can. I also thoroughly enjoy the fellowship of others...even if it is only through the reading of blogs and posting.


Mary said: Well I might be the morbid one in the group but I choose to be joyful because all that I have could be gone in a blink. A car accident. A disease or illness. A fire.... all gone and changed in an instant. So when I remember how temporary all this is... ya that perspective keeps the joy a flowin.

Amy D said: Choosing Joy in parenting for me started with my eyes being opened to how precious just being able to have one child was. When I had my first miscarriage about 15 months after having my daughter Emily that sent our hopes & dreams to a screeching halt. Then shortly afterwards to loose twins at our 11 week appt. just rocked our world. We went back and forth to Yale for a few months undergoing testing being followed by the specialists, unsure if we would ever be able to bring another child into the world. It was a scary time and a day felt like a lifetime. The Lord really worked in my heart during that time & it gave me such a new appreciation for my child. Of course we were able to conceive again and in December of '07 we welcome Sarah JOY into our lives. The name largely chosen for just this reason, to remember that this life is a Joy and to never take a day for granted.

Stacy said: JOY...Well, I have certainly learned it is a CHOICE! It's easier to not be joyful some days. My joy ultimately comes from the Lord, and He gives it to me in so many ways. My favorite way He gives it to me is through the laughter of my children.

Elisa said: I loved reading what all of these women are saying. It's funny how we can be in different seasons and forget the benefits of it. Like Christina wonders what...."I would be doing if I were single or childless." and realizes that that girl would kick her!!! LOL!!
I laugh bc that is me! I sit in Starbucks and stare at all the moms, wishing it were me!
I also identified with Amy so much. When my husband and I decided to start trying to make a family we got pregnant right away only to lose the baby at 9 weeks. We were devastated and for the past 15 months have been waiting for God to bless us with another pregnancy/baby. Between doctor visits and fertility treatments there are days when I struggle to find my joy. When one day feels like an eternity, it's a battle.
I find my joy through worship. Quite honestly, it's the last thing I feel like doing in my lowest times... but I know as I begin to worship the Lord for His greatness, His love, His faithfulness... basically getting my eyes off of ME .... JOY comes and it IS my strength!!!

Michelle said: what gives me Joy as a mom? Being a stay-at-home mother and teaching my children manners and how to cook...then watching them do things on their own that I taught them! Amazing! I was a child that was in day care everyday while my mom worked so for me to be able to stay home with my children is a JOY!

Maria said: I find joy in the every day things. As you know I am a nanny. I found joy this morning as I was laying on the floor in the kitchen (don't ask) and having a 5 year sitting on the counter laughing. Waking them up in the morning knowing that our favorite thing to do is to be tickled awake. The joy of a beautiful fall day and thankful I am alive to see it. Holding hands with someone and feeling peace finally, even if it is short time knowing that you will be thankful for that little time with them. I have found joy in realizing that even though the last few months have been a struggle that I am doing the will of my Father in heaven and that He has placed me here for a reason. I have this quote on my facebook wall by C.S. Lewis "Joy is the serious business of heaven" Doesn't that just sum it all up?

Lora said: Making a conscious decision to choose to be joyful has to be daily for me. I can get so bogged down with the daily grind that I forget about all of the blessings, big ones and little ones. I find that when I focus on myself: my tiredness, my frustrations, my long list of to-do's, that I lose joy almost entirely. However, when I focus on serving my family the joy returns!



THANK YOU again ladies for sharing from your hearts! I think some things you mentioned would be worth touching on in the coming days. Have a wonderful day friends! I won't post a 'today's challenge' for today - but maybe reflecting on these women's thoughts will challenge you to CHOOSE JOY today?!