Choosing Joy

Timothy 4:6-8
6 For I am already on the point of being sacrificed; the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

This morning, I rushed up to my attic in search of a certain poem that impacted me when I was a child.  Let me just say that it is an understatement to say that I keep everything.  I am a sentimentalist, impacted greatly by things that trigger emotion in me. 

I particularly like words.  Not paintings or things so much as written words. I am not a huge reader of novels because to me, sometimes a bunch of words do not really say anything.  But I just gleam with delight when I can read merely a few words that speak volumes.  So again, not a member of a book club.  

Anyway, if it ever (EVER) meant anything to me, chances are high that I still have it.  Probably in the many boxes in my attic.

Unfortunately,  I could not find the poem. But please allow me to just describe it for you.  So much has been written on this certain theme.  The title was “I would have picked more daisies.”  It spoke of walking barefoot earlier in the spring…of appreciating the little things in life…. Of not getting caught up in working more but focusing on loving more and living more.

Now I was in elementary school when my dad brought this home from work and my mom posted it on the refrigerator.  It was simply profound to me, even at my young age.  I remember thinking I would live this way, so as not to miss the simple beauty of life here on earth.

My best friend’s father took his last breath yesterday.  He was not even 70 years old yet.  But he had lived a full life.  He fought the good fight.  He finished the race.  He kept the faith.

He was known to be the life of the party and he had lived to see both of his two children grow up and make a good life for themselves.  

What about you?  Fighting a good fight?  Persevering in the race?  Keeping the faith?

Are you living life to the fullest?  God wants this for us.  He wants joy for us.  He wants love for us.  He wants peace for us. 

Jeremiah 31:13

“Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well.  I will turn their mourning into gladness.  I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow.”

I don't know about you but sometimes I can get down and fall into a pit of despair.  Life is hard.  Paul acknowledges to Timothy that this life is a fight and a race.  But he also points out that in the end, a great reward awaits us in return for our faith. 

I also know that sometimes I fit into the category of “over-protective mom.”  I am that mom who makes sure my daughter eats well, gets to bed on time, and washes her hands before eating.  Sometimes, I am just too practical.  To be fair, we do have an auto-immune disease that forces us to lead a structured life.  But there is a bit of room to let loose.

So tonight, we are headed to my daughter's first concert.  On a school night, my daughter who is in bed by 8:00 is going to stay up until 11:00.  Yahoo!  

I just pray she will find JOY tonight!  I pray God will stabilize her blood sugars and give her the energy she needs to make it through the concert without any serious consequences.

After all, we do not know how long we will be here.  She may not have another chance to see Taylor Swift!  Things happen and in an instant, your entire world can change.  There is a song that says “unsinkable ships sink, unbreakable walls break, sometimes the things you think will never happen, happen just like that.”

A very wise man I know (my husband) had this to say :

“Live in the moment and live fully today because we do not know how much time we have on earth. The challenge is to not be so focused on long-term goals that we miss the opportunities to love others and be grateful in the daily details of life which in the end become our fondest memories or our deepest regrets.”

So I will end with this:  LIVE!  Live today as if it were your last.  You hold the ability to choose how you will spend your days and ultimately, your life.  Choose joy.  Maybe pick some daisies.