I wrote this post earlier in the week, before the shooting in Connecticut. What’s happened adds unwanted weight to my words here about fighting sadness around the holidays, though the overwhelming grief so many are feeling today is so much more than holiday blues. As our nation mourns, I am praying for everyone touched by this tragedy.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Is it? Really? REALLY?
Because in my world, I’ve got a child with a stomach bug; a stack of unstamped, unlabeled and certainly unmailed Christmas cards; and the typical end-of-year financial stress. And did I mention no more Hallmark Channel?
Those are obviously small problems. Even the stomach bug is [reportedly] a 24-hour one. But to be honest, the holidays are hard sometimes. I’ve noticed over the past couple of years that I find myself fighting the pull of darkness not long after the holiday season comes to a close. And this year, that pull started earlier than ever.
About halfway through last weekend, I sat in my car, alone and wondering what was wrong with me. I should have been inside, with everyone else. It was a time for celebration, for connection. All I wanted was isolation. And a nap. Over the next two days I barely touched my computer and felt so tired I could have slept for a solid 12 hours. I skipped our Tuesday night Facebook chat and had to push myself into the shower Wednesday morning, reminding myself that I really do love my job the whole time.
Thankfully, a good night’s sleep and a glimpse in the mirror snapped me out of it. NO, I don’t mean seeing myself without mascara for the third day in a row was the wake-up call. I mean seeing my earrings – and remembering why I chose them – was the catalyst for remembering that no matter what our circumstances, we can always choose joy.
“Choose Joy.” That was my friend Sara’s mantra. And if ever someone had difficult circumstances to face, it was her. Yet Sara still chose to find joy in her life and her Lord – and then share it with so many others.
Most days I can find the positive or at least the potential for the positive in my situation. But when the dark rolls in, it’s not quite as easy. That’s when I need something to ground me and bring me back.
That’s when I need my JOY earrings from Lisa Leonard’s Faith Collection at DaySpring.
Lisa has designed several beautiful, meaningful pieces exclusively for DaySpring, each with a message of hope or encouragement. And today she’s giving away a pair of these Joy Earrings to a lucky Giving Up on Perfect reader!
To enter the giveaway: Leave a comment telling us how you choose joy in the midst of pain. For additional entries, like Giving Up on Perfect or Lisa Leonard Designs on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment telling me about it (for each one). Giveaway will close at midnight on Wednesday, December 19.
This post includes affiliate links. I received my Joy Earrings to review, but all opinions are my own.
Oh friend, I have cried more this month than I have all year. And it’s only because of the stress and the busyness and all the crazy. I want to love this time of year, I really do, but it’s just too much for me. I find myself looking forward to January and the calm it brings.
You’re not alone. :)
i trust that God has a plan in all this
finding joy in the midst of pain is easy when your holding Jesus’s hand…
Nice to know I’m not the only one. :) Simplify is my motto for this Christmas. We are trying to find joy in the “simple” things.
I choose joy by putting God’s love in action. By doing. By not giving up. By being in relationship with others.
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like lisa leonard designs on facebook
now, today…..hugging my kids tight…..
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liked Lisa on facebook
I remembered this post from when Jo originally wrote it, and found her re-posting ever so comforting yesterday: http://www.mylestonesblog.com/2012/12/under-gaping-mouthed-moon.html
Basically, we have to choose to give thanks instead of live in sorrow. That’s what lured me to sleep, finally, last night … thanking God for baby bellies and toes, curly heads and fleece pajamas. We mourn with those who mourn, but we know that joy comes in the morning – eventually.
…through much prayer & devotion. I look to Him for the healing comfort only He can bring. How poignant this post is considering what occurred yesterday. I am praying that all of the grieving families run *to* Christ instead of running from Him.
I give thanks, over and over and over!
Liked Lisa Leonard on FB…(I had already liked Giving up on Perfect!!)
I choose joy by reminding myself that God has a plan for me. It’s like a light at the end of the tunnel.
I like Giving Up On Perfect on fb.
I like Lisa Leonard Designs on fb.
It is a choice.That’s how I look at it.I choose joy.What He does is for our good and His glory.We can always find something to be joyful about.
monk5 at charter dot net
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monk5 at charter dot net
Here is how I choose joy in the midst of pain: I remember that God is in control. Nothing surprises Him. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He sees the big picture, we see the puzzle piece. Life doesn’t have to make sense to us, but God is good, all the time. Even when horrible things happen, God is there in the midst, waiting to love us and comfort us. We live in a sin-cursed world for a time, but for eternity I will be with Christ. There will be no more tears and no more sorrows because there will be no more sin. So, how I choose joy is by choosing to be thankful despite the pain. Thankful that God is in control. Thankful for what He has given. There are some days that the only thing I can think to be thankful for is my heartbeat and my breath–both of which God holds in His hands. I make the choice not to dwell on my sorrow, but on the joy that comes with the morning. It is not always easy, and there is a time for mourning, but the more ways I find to thank Him, the more joy I feel. My life passage is Philippians 4:6-8…especially 8 because it tells you how to find joy in the midst of the pain–by focusing on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy.
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This is such a hard time of year because of our expectations. I find that real life can never live up to what I have built up in my mind. It’s hard to be joyful when we are feeling constantly disappointed. Thanks for your post and for hosting such a beautiful giveaway.
Those earrings are beautiful. I find that what helps me the most is counting my blessings. Listing all the ways I have been blessed is a huge help.
My husband has been challenging me to regain joy in my life these days. I think it is easy to let all the heartache and pain in the world steal that joy we have inside us, the joy that can only come from an all-surpassing love, and a peace that passes understanding, especially since this world is beyond understanding. I still carry a great sadness in my heart at what should have been this Christmas, but I am hoping that the joy will return one day, that I will be among the faithful, joyful, and triumphant.
Just think of all the other times I haven’t had pain. Certianly outnumber!
I count my blessings and thank God.
Every single one of my Christmas traditions comes from my mother. Beginning with Black Friday shopping the day after Thanksgiving to decorating the tree and then all the way to the homemade Christmas stockings everyone in my family has. My mom passed away in the summer of 2011 and 4 months later I found out that I was pregnant with a baby girl. That Christmas was tough. I didn’t go anywhere. It was hard to feel celebratory. And my family is 3,000 miles away in Oregon. But then this past September my 3-year old son started preschool at Trinity United Methodist Church. His school is AMAZING and through him I have refocused on the meaning of Christmas. He comes home with stories about the 3 Wise Men and the Christmas Star. Stories of Mary and Joseph and “Away in a Manger”. Last week, on the way to the gym, he was looking out the windows of the car, and asked where Jesus was, and if the Wise Men had found him yet. Focusing on the Joy of Jesus’ birth and the wonderful things. He has done for us has helped me to not focus on what I am missing at Christmas, but the gifts He has given me. My two fabulous children. A wonderful husband. A job I love and a house I call home. This doesn’t mean I didn’t cry when my dad sent me my mom’s stocking for my baby’s first Christmas, but it has made me celebrate every moment I have with my own small children. This weekend more than ever.
Liked Lisa Leonard – such beautiful ornaments and jewelery!
Like your FB page. LOVE your blog :) Didn’t know you did live chats – will have to login for one.
This past week was full of relatively minor things that did go my way, the biggest of which was me totaling our mini van … with my two kids and a friend’s kid with me on the way to school Monday morning. What a way to start the week! I *tried* to focus on all the blessings and protections I experienced that day and every other day. I cried a lot, but at the end of every day I was oh-so grateful to be alive and living this life of mine.
I choose joy when I do simple things with my kids (baking cookies, doing homework, reading books). Thanks for the timely post on choosing joy. Its certainly been hard to choose joy after the events of last week.
When life is difficult, I find that I get a lot of joy from the unconditional love my pets offer. I also try to read inspiring books and blogs. Lately, the author Augusten Burroughs has been helpful to me.
It’s a choice to trust and choose JOY… sometimes it’s easy and sometimes it’s not.