Thomas S. Monson spoke in General conference about "Finding Joy in the Journey." I don't care who you are it is a very hard task at times. Our RS theme for this year is Joy in the Journey. Our lesson was on this topic on Sunday and has been on my mind especially because my journey has been rough lately . Lots and lots of things going haywire some big some little and some completely out of left field just hitting me square between the eyes and knocking me for a loop. I know we can not progress without trials. I am even grateful for them at times. Usually when they are over and I can analyze them and try to learn from them. It seems lately, the more I try to find joy the more I am hit with things I do not cope well with. I have questioned how I can find Joy in the journey while coping with:
Potty training.
Issues brought on by PCOS and infertility.
Extended family hardships and sadness.
Overcoming a few specific weakness's.
Keeping up with every day life.
A child destroying two sets of blinds in my kitchen.
Extra therapy and evaluations for my Wild Thing who as such a hard time coping with stress and he is so little.
Buying the cutest cupcakes for Sissy's pre-school B-day celebration and putting them up high only to return from the bathroom and find 1/4 eaten and semi destroyed by two, two year olds who have refined the art of climbing.
Watching Sissy and Miss M tootle out the back door explain to me how Sissy peed her pants because Miss M took too long on the toilet. I was on the phone with their Dad. They proceeded to the sand box, wet peed pants and all. Sissy sits down while M pours sand all over the wet child. Pee and sand, lucky me :0) The mess in the bathroom half cleaned up with a towel.
A broken refrigerator lock for the 2ND time, which means extra vigilance on my part.
I could go on and on................................................
I decided I need a plan if I am going to find joy when the going gets tuff because lately I would not call myself successful. My game plan has been to in general to loose my cool and most of the time end up in tears wishing I could have done better. Thinking my kids deserve better, after all they are doing what kids do best, They are just being kids. I am the adult in charge, it's time I started acting like it!!!
I find joy through my camera lens. I love capturing moments and expressions. I love when my kids do thing so sweet and fun that I can't help but laugh. I love when I get HUG that makes my day. I love when they learn a new word or mimic an adult perfectly.
I love hearing an I love you between my kids. I love watching them show affection for one another. I love listening to them pray for each other. I love hearing them sing. I love it when they ask for a sibling who is not around and hope to see them soon. I love when Miss M makes my bed and is so excited to show me. I love that my girls take a Sunday nap with me each week and fight over who's turn it is to sleep by me. I love when they share gospel stories with me or tell me how they prayed and got what they needed. I love all this and so much more. So the lesson learned is that, you can only find the joy if you look for it. Anger comes from selfishness. The great thing is I am a Daughter Of God and he gave me tools to change. The tools to reach deep inside myself and find a different way to look at things. It's been a tough couple of weeks for me and some how I have to find Joy in MY Journey.
13 comments:
I'm right there with you sister! I am thinking of a huge GRRR moment right now and wanting to scream....thanks for your input on staying positive! :) HUGS!
You get the mom award for getting through all of that. I think I would have had a mental break down already.
Keep the positive attitude and i think I'll send a prayer your way as well, I sounds like you need it :)
JAMIE! I know that I have talked with you about this, but I wanted you to know that I am SO SORRY that it seems to rain and pour all at the same time!! I hope that you are able to find the joy in your journey.
I have said it before and I say it again:
I don't know HOW you do it, and do it so well.
Because you DO do it so well.
Don't forget all the really great things you do. It's hard when you are having some tough times, but you are AMAZING!!!
xoxox
You ARE AMAZING! I dont know how you do it all!
I am still trying to find joy in what I have go through each day with my disease and family and I am finding out that is in moments! I sometimes have to step back and take a deep breath and find something to be grateful for and find the joy. Its only then can I go on.
I LOVE YOU:)
Okay, I loose it and totally feel like a failure over and over again and I only have TWO kids!! You do so much good you do for those kids, even when you think you don't. Sorry you're dealing with so much right now.
JAMIE - thank you so much for reminding me to find the JOY in life. We've had a rough couple of weeks as well. And it is easy to find the anger and get mad, but I just need to step back a little and find the joy in the situations. I too need to take those few steps back and look at the ALL of the JOY I have going on around me in my journey through life. Thank you again! You are an amazing mother and an amazing friend!
Don't know what it is about January... but... ugh...
Can this month be over??? can I erase it? What am I supposed to learn??? Probably need to pray more.
Yes... gotta "find joy in the journey" too. And... yes there is joy in the journey... maybe I'm just focussing on the yucky stuff.
I feel like this month I can most relate with you though. Thank you for your post!
Amanda
Sorry to hear that some days are such rough going, but good for you finding the joy where it hides anyway!!!
After listening to that talk at conference I ran up stairs and changed the title on my blog to "Finding the JOY in the Journey"
I think it's very appropriate when you are a parent.
Life is hard and being a parent is harder but we do the best we can. I think you do a fabulous job and I take every bit of advice you give me and use it.
I LOVE your perspective on life. It IS GREAT to be reminded to LOOK for the good! Thanks.
Jamie
Call me I lost you phone number. I want to talk.
LOVE all the picture and I agree with Ashley, how do you do it all and do it all so well.
Call me.
Thanks for the shout out and the comment on my blog. Loved this post -- so thoughtful and thought provoking. Your photo header is one of my all-time favorites!
Just getting caught up. I am assuming you have had a better couple of days, yes? I couldn't help think and wonder how your smiling is going? It amazing how that can help, even though your teeth may be clenched I hope your lips are smiling. i am saying this mostly to myself but thought I would let you in on my self-talk. :)
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