"The joy-filled life is not found by diminishing my God-given responsibilities as a woman, wife, and mother, nor can I find joy merely by refusing to face the hard realities of life in a fallen world. There is a tension that God is asking me to acknowledge and accept ~ the tension between ideals and realities. True joy is found by living somewhere between the ideal life and daily realities. That is where Jesus meets me, where His Holy Spirit empowers, and where I learn how to live the Christian life with supernatural joy. To celebrate life is simply a choice."
-Seasons of a Mother's Heart
As I reflect on past Thanksgivings, I remember the amazing corn dressing, the lovely table, pies galore, Jelled cranberry salad with cream cheese and pecans and everyone together. There were times it seemed so much work and I wondered, “Does any of this matter?”
I know now, that the grace of life art matters so much. We were made to be dimentional people. Our brains and souls long for color, beauty, the crafting of words and ideas, the discipline of conquering a classical piece of music on piano or a contemporary song on guitar. Our palate are made for deliciousness, our longings are for traditions, celebrations with our people in our place done in our way.
Stay fast, my friend. A legacy of pleasure and joy lived out in the sacred place of home is leaving a legacy that draws sweet ones to your ideals beyond your present comprehension.
Today, my friend, Jacqui and I wax strong about these areas and what our grown children have told us.
