Fight Back with Joy – Starting Week #3

Growing up, my family never lived in the same town as our relatives (grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins). When I say “same town”, many of our relatives didn’t even live in the same Country. It wasn’t until I was approaching high school, that my maternal grandparents moved close to us and that was the most family we ever had nearby.

The only reason I share that is because my house was filled with non-relatives growing up. We always knew our neighbors, Sunday lunches always included a family or two that we may have just met – I felt like our home was always open. I don’t ever recall my mom in a panic because the neighbor came over and she was folding laundry in the kitchen. I don’t ever recall my mom yelling for me and my sis to get the barbies and all their tiny accessories out of the living room because “so and so” just called and was coming over to talk. I don’t ever recall my mom fretting over the perfect dining room table to seat her Sunday guests at. (In fact, if you lifted a corner of the tablecloth, you would discover a solid door that had been repurposed by adding legs so it could seat 8 people for dinner). The things I recall are the conversations, the laughter, the many friends that were made, the rose colored bowl etched with white leaves that matched nothing but always held the best mashed potatoes… I remember everyone feeling welcomed, loved, and always returning as often as they could. Not many things in our home were fancy or “set out” to impress, but it was clean and love spilled everywhere. More time was spent focusing on the lives inside the home instead of items in the home. Don’t misunderstand me, there’s nothing wrong with matching dishes, but in our home there was more time spent in knowing the hearts of who walked through our front door instead of what they were wearing, their physical appearance, or what social class they belonged to. In fact, I’m certain we entertained millionaires and some who never had much more than $5 in their bank account, but I would never have known the difference by the way they were treated by my parents.

As I read some of the joy robbers Margaret listed in session two (page 61), five of them stuck out and made me think of my life as a child – comparison, perfectionism, shame, frustration, discontentment. These 5 are ones that I definitely was not taught growing up, but as an adult, I do find them constantly trying to sneak in. Those choices my mom and dad made to reject those joy robbers in their home and hearts, are now responsibilities in my own life. I agree with Margaret when she shared about the dangers of social media popping her balloons of joy. The dangers of comparison, perfectionism, discontentment, and so much more can creep in if we’re not careful. As we finished session 2, I spent some time reflecting my own home and heart. What joy robbers are holding down my ankles? What changes will I intentionally make to break free of them?

My desire is to “push back” those things! I want to slow down and truly experience the bounty I have been given by God. To live daily in the joy of my salvation (as King David mentions in Psalm 51:12). To care more, to love more. To worry less about if the plates match at the table, but to zoom in on the hearts at the table. To leave the dirty dishes in the sink and enjoy the conversations until the last good-bye is heard. To slow down and protect The Lord’s Day / The Sabbath – to Worship Him with my church family and to get the rest that I know I need – not allowing things to break in and steal that.

As I walked around our neighborhood the other day listening to a playlist, I heard Michael W. Smith share Isaiah 61:3 – exchange the spirit of heaviness for a garment of praise.

What a perfect week we have coming up to remind ourselves that, when our focus is on thankfulness, praising our God for all that matters most, the spirit of heaviness lifts. We were created to praise our Savior and bring glory to His name. When our attention is turned to things that are meaningless – material possessions, keeping up with the Jones’, our social status, seeking our fame instead of His (social media), distractions that keep us from honoring the Sabbath…our joy fades. Will you share ways that you will be intentional this Thanksgiving week to bring praise to Him?

Here’s two of mine…

• The first one I started 4 years ago. It’s my Thanksgiving tree with the names of Jesus on it! One way to remind me through the Thanksgiving and Christmas season to keep my focus on Him and giving Him thanks!
• And then there’s this rose colored bowl, matching nothing, that will sit at my Thanksgiving table this year and every year that God gives me. May it remind me of what my momma taught me by her actions – focus on what’s really important – the people at my table. Don’t get caught up in a joy robber worrying about the “matching bowls”. (Sorry this time Pinterest, I’ve always been a bit of a rebel).

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8

Have a Happy Thanksgiving! ?

By His Grace,

+Linda