| Author | |
Mimip
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1526
|
| Posted: June 26 2009 at 12:52pm | IP Logged
|
 |
|
I have finally gotten around to posting this post that I have been pondering for the past few weeks.
This coming year I have dedicated to finding the Joy in my vocation as a homeschooling wife and Mom. This past year was a tough one for my family and I was bombarded constantly with taking up my cross but I had a really hard time with that because I tend to get depressed and bitter with those crosses sooooo this year I will embrace my crosses with JOY.
I have a few ideas about how I am going to make this possible and would love to share them with you. Please share your ideas on how we can make this walk a joyful one.
1. Admit that Joy is a choice. I am going to add to my morning offering a phrase about joy. Here it is " Lord, today I ask you to let me choose to do all, in Your Will, with Joy" I know it is simple but I also know that the Lord will answer my prayer.
2. When confronted with a behavior that I don't like from the children ie:disobedience, laziness, ect. I will smile, count to ten and then deal with it in love. This is big one for me since I tend to react very quickly and can get very angry. Counting and responding in love will help this, I hope 
3. A Joy journal: I just bought a composition book and have started writing everyday 2 things that bring me Joy. They are sometimes really silly things (clean socks) and sometimes more profound (my children's health)
This is just a start. How would you live your vocation with JOY????
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4 lads mom
Forum All-Star
Joined: Sept 26 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1944
|
| Posted: June 26 2009 at 2:43pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What an awesome post, Mimi!! I have been feeling a little grouchy as well lately.....just tired and overwhelmed. I need to moderate my voice with the same things you mentioned.....I get so impatient when I am tired. So..maybe part of joy is getting more rest.
I have been reflecting a lot on this, since I have been following a little guy from back home that is dying of brain cancer at 7...and thinking a lot of how his parents feel right now....and then hearing about a gentleman on Focus on the Family that lost four kids and his wife in a flood...Okay, so I don't mean to sound joyless by bringing up all of this heavy, heavy stuff, but it makes me stop and really ponder each day,and that each and every moment is a gift and I need to act more accordingly. I have felt that joy in my soul when things are falling apart all around me..I see little hints of it like what the Saints talk about when things get really, really tough and you have that calm feeling in your soul that God is in charge and you feel loved and taken care of...but it is the day to day details and litte stuff that sucks me dry and robs me of joy.
Does anyone else feel like that? I have gotten really good at managing crisis, like a fireman..but I need to remember to be "courageous" during the down time as well. Staying courageous and persistent in keeping my voice loving to my kids, and really being present to them IN THE MOMENT.. keeping my attitude of joy when dealing with them becomes contagious...to all in our family.
So...I am endeavoring ( borrowing Katherine's phrase) with God as my Helper...to speak in more loving tones to my kids and husband....to count my blessings several times throughout the day....and not get derailed by the details. Like St. Theresa of Avila says, " Let nothing disturb you" I hope I got that right! 
Sorry this is so disjointed, but I need to feed Lily!!
Can't wait to hear what others say.
__________________
Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
Scenes From This and That
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
stellamaris
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 26 2009
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2732
|
| Posted: June 26 2009 at 4:54pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
This message on joy has been a favorite of mine for many years:
There is nothing I can give you, which you have not; But there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take peace! The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach, is joy. There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look. Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy or hard. Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me that angel's hand is there; the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys too: be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts. And so, at this time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away.
--Fra Giovanni 1513
__________________
In Christ,
Caroline
Wife to  dh 30+ yrs,ds's 83,85,89,dd's 91,95,ds's 01,01,02,grammy to 4
Flowing Streams
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mimip
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1526
|
| Posted: June 26 2009 at 5:03pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
What a great quote Caroline. I am working right now to compile great quotes about Joy. 
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Servant2theKing
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1505
|
| Posted: June 26 2009 at 5:35pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
~~~There is nothing I can give you, which you have not; But there is much, very much, that while I cannot give it, you can take. No heaven can come to us unless our hearts find rest in today. Take heaven! No peace lies in the future which is not hidden in this present instant. Take peace! The gloom of the world is but a shadow. Behind it, yet within reach, is joy. There is a radiance and glory in the darkness, could we but see, and to see we have only to look. I beseech you to look. Life is so generous a giver, but we, judging its gifts by their covering, cast them away as ugly, or heavy or hard. Remove the covering, and you will find beneath it a living splendor, woven of love, by wisdom, with power. Welcome it, grasp it, and you touch the angel's hand that brings it to you. Everything we call a trial, a sorrow, or a duty, believe me that angel's hand is there; the gift is there, and the wonder of an overshadowing presence. Our joys too: be not content with them as joys. They, too, conceal diviner gifts. And so, at this time, I greet you. Not quite as the world sends greetings, but with profound esteem and with the prayer that for you now and forever, the day breaks, and the shadows flee away. Fra Giovanni 1513~~~
(I couldn't figure out how to do the nifty quote thing everyone does, with a nice, neat little yellow box...oh well!)
Thank you so, so much Caroline for this profound quote! JOY sometimes comes in startling, unforeseen packages...many of life's greatest joys seem to be accompanied by thorns or crosses we might never imagine unfolding to reveal an incomparable gift! Childbirth seems a perfect example! Total pain to utter joy, instantaneously! I have felt the "angel's hand" presenting such gifts...on rare occasions the Lord has allowed brief glimpses of His "diviner gifts" amidst the joys and sorrows of life! For those of you struggling to recapture joy, may the Lord allow you to witness the day break and the shadows flee away!
A favorite song, that always help me see joy even in times of sorrow is "It is Well With My Soul" written by Horatio Spafford, a man who lost all four of his daughters when their ship sank...after he had remained in the US to deal with severe losses from the Chicago fire...our favorite version is sung by 4HIM, and is on their "HYMNS, A Place for Worship CD". This song always, always bring me to a place of joy in the midst of deepest sorrow.
Mimi, I love the idea of a joy journal! We've been using a gratitude jar...I think joy is a close cousin of gratitude!
__________________
All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
JodieLyn
Forum Moderator
Joined: Sept 06 2006
Location: Oregon
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 12234
|
| Posted: June 26 2009 at 5:57pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I don't have anything to add but I am enjoying the posts..
Servant use the quote button in the upper right corner of the post that you want to quote.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Servant2theKing
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 13 2005
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1505
|
| Posted: June 27 2009 at 6:13am | IP Logged
|
|
|
JodieLyn wrote:
Servant use the quote button in the upper right corner of the post that you want to quote. |
|
|
Testing, testing....did I do it right? I can't believe it was right there under my nose all along....n every single post! Geez!
__________________
All for Christ, our Saviour and King, servant
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: June 27 2009 at 7:32am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thank you for starting this Mimi  . I so needed it. Just the other day I was thinking, "where is my joy?". I've always considered myself to be a happy, joyful person but lately it seems I am caught up in sadness or anger. I can hear it in my voice especially - in the tone I use with my children or even the negative or sarcastic way I've talked with friends.  I'm going to start a "joy journal" as you mentioned. My first post in my journal will be a short prayer like yours and the beautiful quote posted by Caroline.
Thanks! 
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Becky Parker
Forum All-Star
Joined: May 23 2005
Location: Michigan
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2582
|
| Posted: June 27 2009 at 7:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I love the visual journal idea at this blog. Actually, the whole blog is beautiful! I'm going to use this idea for my Joy Journal!
__________________
Becky
Wife to Wes, Mom to 6 wonderful kids on Earth and 4 in Heaven!
Academy Of The Good Shepherd
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Theresa
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2006
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1042
|
| Posted: June 27 2009 at 1:11pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I've been doing a visual journal like the one at the above blog for a couple of months now and I love it. Sometimes it holds lists, other times it has Scriptures and somedays it records my cries to the Father. I love to look back through it.
I found a sketch book at a hobby store and have been using that. It is 8.5 x 11 and hard bound with and elastic band that goes around it. It holds up well for putting in pictures because the paper is thicker.
__________________
Theresa
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mimip
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1526
|
| Posted: June 27 2009 at 6:04pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I love the visual picture idea!!!!!! That is awesome My next one might be a blank sketch book with room to actually put some pictures that I like.
Servant, I am with you that gratitude is a close second to Joy.
Have you ever heard the Adventures in Odyssey (sp?) about the hymn "It is well with my Soul"? I had never even heard of it until I heard that particular episode and it explains the whole story beautifully.
Has anyone thought of any particular readings they can do that have to do with joy? I was trying to think of some good spiritual reading on the topic for my year.
Enjoying the sharing Ladies
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Matilda
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2007
Location: Texas
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1827
|
| Posted: June 27 2009 at 6:15pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Very much interested in this topic too. Thanks for sharing!
__________________
Charlotte (Matilda)
Mom to four (11 , 10, 9 & 5 ) an even split for now
with bookend boys and a double girl sandwich
Waltzing Matilda
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Stephanie_Q
Forum Pro
Joined: Aug 25 2007
Location: Nebraska
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 479
|
| Posted: June 29 2009 at 3:20pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Working on this, myself. I have been reading "Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence: The Secret of Peace and Happiness" and towards the end, I just read (yesterday), "...we should always accept adversity joyfully." (p. 116) It really got me thinking about how I...don't. I am a lot like 4 lads mom who wrote: "but it is the day to day details and little stuff that sucks me dry and robs me of joy." This book addresses this beautifully (and I have been re-reading this every day):
"There is no one who does not experience a hundred small annoyances every day, caused by our own carelessness or inattention, or by the inconsideration or spite of other people, or by pure accident. Our whole lives are made up of incidents of this kinds, occurring ceaselessly from one minute to another and producing a host of involuntary feelings of dislike and aversion, envy, fear and impatience to trouble the serenity of our minds. ...-these are not occasions for practicing heroic virtue but they can be a means of acquiring it if we wish. If we were careful to offer all these petty annoyances to God and accept them as being ordered by His providence we would soon be in a position to support the greatest misfortunes that can happen to us, besides at the same time insensibly drawing close to intimate union with God." (pp 105-106)
__________________
Stephaniedh 6.01
dd 6.02, dd 8.03, ds 3.05, ds 12.06 at Catholic school.
dd 12.09 at home.
Baby boy due 10.13
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
chrisv664
Forum Pro
Joined: Feb 22 2005
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 324
|
| Posted: June 29 2009 at 3:47pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
I am enjoying this thread. I have often pondered the difference between "happiness" and "joy".
Having borne the crosses of loss of all four of our parents, as well as my husband's brother at the age of 30, I have come to realize that while happiness is a "feeling" which can change from day to day... even minute to minute, JOY is a state of being... right to the bone! I can actually be "feeling" sad, yet still have JOY at the same time. It is truly a gift of God! Through many sad events in the life of my marriage, my husband and I have actually had people ask us how and why we came through them stronger than before. My only answer is that it is the unsurpassing JOY of the Lord, and it is really beyond explanation.
I pray for of us, especially when we are given to depression and sadness at times, that we may all come to know the Joy of the Lord.
__________________
Chris
Loving Wife of Dan and Mom to Kate, Jessica, Ben,
Rebecca, Thomas and Hannah
Burning The Candle At Both Ends
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mimip
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 17 2009
Location: Florida
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1526
|
| Posted: June 29 2009 at 5:39pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
chrisv664 wrote:
JOY is a state of being...
|
|
|
I LOVE THIS!!!!
I totally agree Chris!
__________________
In Christ,
Mimi
Wife of 16 years to Tom, Mom of DD'00, DD'02, '04(in heaven) DS'05, DS'08 and DS '12
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Theresa
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 27 2006
Location: Minnesota
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 1042
|
| Posted: June 29 2009 at 6:42pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Happiness is based on happen stance.
Joy is a choice.
__________________
Theresa
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
|
|
4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Finding the everyday Joy
