““Joy to the world, the Lord is come
Let Earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing”
Issac Watts
As 2022 begins to end, the sweet sincere soul-soothing word of GENTLE slowly dissipates like the curling smoke of a lit lavender incense stick. I am grateful for the growth of Grace, Ease, Nourishing, Trust, Littleness, and Surrender in me and through me. As the spark of 2023, the word JOY comes ablaze into my heart, soul and mind. When previously called to JOY in the immediate grief of losing my older sister, the word burned gently like a wood fire lit in hearth of the family room. “. “ Yet this round of JOY shouts like a bonfire feasting on dried up Christmas tree.
“JOY” , “Jesus Others You” the classic Sunday school acronym states. Yet, as I silence myself by surrendering to the truth of Joy, my soul sings, “Joy the lighthearted burden of trusting in God’s internal provision despite external poverties.” In other words, “my satisfaction rests in the assurance of God’s unconditional and unchanging love that nothing in or beyond this world can separate me from.” As the old hymn proclaims, “BLESSED ASSURANCE JESUS is MINE.”
Yes in all circumstances even when:
Marital Desputes: despite almost five years of marriage with almost nine years of knowing one another, my lovely husband who refreshes opposite of me (introvert who loves actions verses extrovert who delights in words), and I are still growing in learning to love one another well. My selfish tendencies and his schmuckness often prevents true compromise and compassion. So our marital joy fight requires choosing to love one another unconditionally by forgiving wholeheartedly.
Extended Family Feuds: the struggles to gather both on Thanksgiving and Christmas reveals family wounds. For my side, the grief of losing my older sister results in a more clinging relationship. My parents and I enjoy frequent interactions with my boys and I often depend on my families help, so my dear husband deals with a lot of in-law time. Meanwhile, the distance and infrequent involvement of his parents expanded by divorce requires separate holiday meetings and great travel with our young children. Physical and emotional distance creates a wall against the warm embrace of a welcoming family events he once knew. So our joy fights past wounds and present challenges to love and honor our parents where they are and for who they are currently without defining our nuclear family of four.
Third Child coming June 2023: Three, such a Trinitarian number of completeness and of sentimentally as a sister of three. However, pregnancy, though thank God seems completely uncomplicated currently, takes a bodily and mental toll as I experience weariness. I am tired and slightly nervous about adding a third child, another to care for and learn about with two sons under five years old. I also don’t enjoy the symptoms and sensation of pregnancy (the side affects often feel uncomfortable frankly). Fittingly for our third, whether a boy or girl, his or her name shall mean “warrior” and he or she shall fight with joy as our youngest of three.. So my joy fight for the faith that our soon family of five shall thrive despite expanding into a mini-van.
So I dare you to join me in 2023 to fight with joy in all circumstances.
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