Happiness or joy...

It's funny how things turn out in life sometimes.  We all have our day to day routines, we go to the same places... we talk to the same people - and then one day out of the blue you receive a text or phone call that has the possibility of changing your life. As you start talking, you discover that everyone has their own baggage (for lack of a better word), that they are carrying around. You realize that sometimes circumstances out of your control have the ability to change your life. You realize you have to learn how to be alone and content by yourself....no spouse, no kids - just you. As the weeks pass and you begin talking to that person - you realize we are all human beings who have made mistakes, who want to be loved unconditionally, and who want to be accepted for who they are. Those things seems so simple... yet, they are not.

As weeks have passed, and we have continually spent time together and talked - the discussion of happiness came up, and the comment was made, "I don't want just happiness in my every day life - I want joy."  How very true this is! As we talked about it for a few minutes, and then I continued to ponder - yes, I want to be happy, but ultimately - I want joy!  When you think about happiness it can be dependent on the circumstances that surround us.  True joy comes from within - it is not dependent on external factors or circumstances. True joy comes from things like faith in our Lord, and brings contentment.

Over the past 3 months, there have been a lot of changes in my life.  K finished up her freshman year of high school, C finished his junior year, and J took off on the adventure of a lifetime.  J has now settled in Montrose, CO and is working on a farm, and living his dream - he is taking in and learning as much as he can. It is truly an amazing gift to be able to watch my kids grow up, chase their dreams, find out who they are as individuals and grow into the adults they are becoming. All they want out of life is to be loved and happy. But, when I think about what I want for my kids, what I want for myself, and what I want for my loved ones - I want them to have JOY! So, as the days, weeks, and months pass  - my prayer is for my loved ones to find JOY! 

"May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Romans 15:13

Unconditional love...

This morning, after I was finished with my quiet time and I was online looking around - I read the following, and it really hit home...

"Unconditional love stays steady despite the circumstances. It believes the best and sees the loved one for who that person can be, rather than who that person is right now. Much of the time, love is undeserved.  That's what makes God's love for us a perfect love. Let's stop trying to "be perfect" and instead embrace "being perfected," as we learn to love more like Jesus each and every day." 

There are very few things in the life that everyone wants, but...I do believe that everyone wants unconditional love.  Your kids want to know that you love them forever and always - regardless of any mistakes they make. Even as an adult, you want to know that your parents will always love you - regardless of poor choices you may make.  You always have friends, that whether you agree with their opinions or actions - you will always support them.  You know that you love them, and you are choosing to support them - regardless of whether you agree.  That is what friends do!  We are not perfect - and we will never be perfect.  Why is this so hard to remember sometimes?

Life is hard!  We are imperfect beings. We all want love and acceptance, but yet at times... something so simple can seem so difficult. We can be harder on ourselves than anyone else will ever be (I know I am), we can be judgmental, and we can be harsh on others.  Sometimes we need to step back, look at the circumstances, and know that people believe in us - even when we don't believe in ourselves. We need to remember we are not perfect, and are being perfected every day!  Unconditional love is knowing all of the persons faults and shortcomings, and loving the person anyway!

So... as we all go through daily struggles, remember -  " Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of then, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave or forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6.