Thursday, October 04, 2012

Great Joy



I don’t really have very strong feelings these days…I don’t have angst over bills or material possessions or religion or politics.  I rarely get angry or even frustrated anymore, I don’t get the blues… …I also do not poignantly feel happiness, peace, excitement, joy… its very tranquil in my life most of the time so it’s kind of boring I guess and I don’t know why this is except that my hormone level is decreasing…I suppose that can account for some of it.  Our life moves at a pretty even keel nowadays so there just doesn’t’ seem to be the highs and lows of emotion anymore.  Sometimes I miss it….the highs, that is…definitely not the lows!

I have three beautiful children, each of them talented and special in their own ways.  They have always made me proud to be their mom.  When they were small it was such a hectic time…as anyone with small children can attest, the days are long and harried and you feel as if you are trapped in some sort of time warp where it will never end.  But it does end; the babies grow in to children, then teens, then young adults, then, by God’s help, into mature adults with families of their own.  They choose friends and colleges and careers and spouses and hopefully, they choose the God they have been raised with.  At some point, the decision making and responsibility for them slips out of your hands and into their own.  It is a hard place to be…left behind…and yet it is liberating as well.  Seeing them struggle and learn and grow as adults and watching as the God that they may or may not have chosen yet, pursues them.  It is a beautiful thing to see and reminds me of His pursuit of me once upon a time and even still.

 I never really stopped long enough while raising my children, to fully enjoy them…there was always something needing attending to and looking back I think that is sad.  They and I have out grown that thankfully and I can now devote more specific attention to them and to their children, more focused attention.  There has come a point in our lives together that I can say whole heartedly that I enjoy them, I enjoy their children, I enjoy being with them and talking with them and doing pretty much anything with them and their families.  The hard work of raising them has passed and now there is a measure of rest… for me anyway.   It is a good time in life, a time to appreciate all that God has blessed me with.

Suddenly today I had a surprising revelation, what has probably been obvious all along for those looking on…
My children and consequently their children bring me joy. 
No, more than that, GREAT JOY…. they FILL me with Joy!  I am overwhelmed by this feeling, this emotion…and grateful…SO grateful, to feel it so deeply and strongly today.

THIS DAY…  I feel JOY, for my children and my grandchildren…they have filled my heart to overflowing!

Thank you, Lord.

10 comments:

Mrs. Mac said...

Well spoken Cheryl. And you are at a place in life that you can take it all in without too many detractors. It's nice that you wrote this all down .. and it blessed me to read your thoughts. xx C

Felisol said...

I think you are very lucky, not only are you at a point in your life where the river runs quietly, but you are aware of your blessings.
How many times don't I look back and think that was a happy time.
You look at the present and say "this is the day the Lord has given us".Enjoy

Pat said...

Beautifully written Cheryl, I'm a few years ahead of you and have experienced just what you are saying.
We are blessed.

Becky said...

i get it!! :)

Home Is Where The Heart Is! said...

Cheryl, It's been so long since I've visited Blogspot. I'm so glad that I returned if only to read your beautiful words. Thanks for sharing such truth, as always. I have missed reading your blogs and I just wanted to thank you. Yours Eternally, Annette

David C Brown said...

The Lord bless you all!

Crown of Beauty said...

I really love this post, Cheryl. In many ways, this is also where I am at the moment. The busy harried days are over, the cooking, the washing, the cleaning up, the looking after the needs of babies, then toddlers, then children, then young teens, then college young adults... and suddenly there came a point that my children were on their own. Like you, I have three (2 sons and 1 daughter). Now, with two sons married, with one son each, I have a feeling of being rewarded with the fruit of my hard work.

Yes, you said it so beautifully. I also enjoy my children and my grandchildren. It's a cycle of blessing...

Thank you for sharing your heart.

Love
Lidia

Diane said...

Cheryl, I can't relate in the sense of having children and grandchildren, but I can relate in just simply taking the time to enjoy the people God has placed in my life. What a joy to sit and comtemplate the relationships I've been blessed to have with some people who are truly amazing individuals, Christians and servants! My dear Cheryl, YOU are one of those people and I am so very thankful you are in my life!

Amrita said...

hi Cheryl, I am following your blog. God bless you

Ame said...

ahhh ... i LOVE this! so extremely well written :)