Friday, September 16, 2011

5 minutes on joy




[the parameters:  Gypsy Mama supplies the topic, writers type an unedited five minutes, add button, & publish.  enjoy!]

::

Joy, huh?

Joy is my middle name, the ironic birthright, since joy is what I often lack and seldom think I give.  I'm getting glimpses, though.

I've always looked around me for the happy things, the little beauties.  One Thousand Gifts gave me a structure for my habit, and disciplining it is helping, dosing me with joy, with slow-down, with how-to-thank-for-sharp-things.

So joy is choosing.  Whatever is right, whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - to find these traits in everything, and think on them.  The ugly is so obvious, sometimes.  The admirable takes some searching, but always worth the hunt.

Joy when the baby whines - that he can, that he's here, that he's not always whining.

Joy when the husband's late - that he works, that he called, that it's home he's coming to, and not away.

Joy when the daughters fight - that they love, deep down, that they listen when I admonish, that they care enough to fight.

Joy when friends are silent - that they're there, still, for me to touch, that they forgive, that we forget and move on.

Joy when supper burns and my temper flies away again - that we have food, that God gives grace, that life goes on and tomorrow is a new day, a fresh start, a clean slate, "with no mistakes written on it yet."

....the five minutes fled.

3 comments:

  1. "Joy is choosing." A good mantra for today... thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I love that each day is clean slate with no mistakes written on it yet! I'm going to start saying that with my kids!

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  3. I wish I could take credit for that quote - I've always loved it, too. I remember it from the Anne of Green Gables movie - her beloved teacher is walking with her, dispensing wisdom before they each move on in life, and she reminds impulsive Anne that each day is a new chance for good. I would go so far as to say each hour (each minute?) is an opportunity to start over!

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