Will You Choose Joy or Defeat?

Little eyes stare up at me, her head is hot and feverish and she's thirsty. With her lamby lovie in one arm and her purple blanket in the other she heads to the couch to get some rest and drink from her sippie. I lay a cold wash cloth on her head and the dimple gleams for a moment "thank you mommy." She chooses joy.

Little eyes stare up at me as he begs to play monopoly. Exhausted I answer, "Not tonight dear". Son's countenance falls...my heart feels heavy too - "go get the game." We play, we laugh, we love. We choose joy.

Leader husband is weary...problems, troubles, burdens and cares bring hardship in his work. We cannot lift his burdens for him - he must carry them on his own. But he is not alone. Little hugs and kisses, cuddles and cards are made - he chooses joy.

How do we stand the hardships of life? How do we as weary moms and wives help those in our home as they face their own hardships? We have weary pilgrims in our house who need comfort, rest, love and a replenishing of spirits. We must role model defiant joy! We must choose joy and smile despite our feelings of defeat at times..

We have the power to bring joy to our entire family.

As I walked along outside in the cold last week - something beautiful caught my eye. My hydrangea was blooming - yes, it was nearly December in Ohio and one little bloom was fighting to survive. As a matter of fact it seemed defiant. In the midst of hardship, even snow - that bloom smiled and glistened in the November chill! Oh to be strong like this bloom. To be able to smile in the face of hardship.

We do have a choice - will you choose joy or defeat? On our own - we will be defeated. But when we walk with the King - Romans 8:37 tells us: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."


As I grabbed my camera to capture this bloom with definat joy - it winked at me and whispered, "see me, I can rise up and sparkle in the sunshine despite the fact that I am surrounded by trouble and death. You can too!"


Walk with the King,