Unpredictable. I watch his face. Is he in a good mood or a bad mood? Will there be yelling? Throwing? Every day is a dance on eggshells. Never sure what will happen.
The Bible tells us that God does not change like the shifting shadows (James 1:17). No matter what others in our life throw our way, we know what to expect from God. His character is clearly defined in the Bible. No more eggshells.
“Pure joy.” To me those words conjure up images of children opening up presents, a good book, a day on the beach, or a full night of sleep. The phrase “pure joy” doesn’t make me think of cracked toilet tanks, wet carpet or a landlord who wants to blame me for the cracked toilet tank. Yet, the Bible gives a different picture on what we need to consider “pure joy.”
The first chapter of James begins, “Consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters, when you are faced with many trials. For you know that the testing of your faith produces perservernce.” Pure joy? What about when my children fight? What about teachers that don’t want to work with my special needs son? What about bullies? What about my life? Consider it “pure joy”?
A few days ago, I sat on the floor and cried to God. It was a day of too many trials and I had nowhere to go. I felt God wrapping his arms around me. Being in his presence was “pure joy.”
I remember when my boys were toddlers, they were always falling. Every time they fell, they would come to me. I would hold them, wipe their tears and speak tenderly to them. Those times were “pure joy.” I did not enjoy the tears, but I enjoyed the time spent with my child.
God is a good God. He doesn’t want to hurt us, but he wants to comfort us. Every trial can be a time to snuggle in our Father’s arms. Pure joy.
When the liars surround me, choking the truth, you hold me up with your right hand.
When others threaten to destroy those I hold dear, I hold onto you.
When my tears fall, you will cry with me.
When the mourning time is finished, we will dance and you will twirl me through the sky.
You are my beloved and I am yours.
© January 5, 2012 by Sarah Schwerin
The jealousy between my two sons has always been there and makes my life rather interesting. I remember an incident from about two years that still makes me chuckle.
I was in the car with my boys and we were istening to a book on CD, The Little Red Hen. After the CD, I heard my then four year old, pick up the book and begin to “read” the Red Hen’s reply to the other animals: “Then me will, said the big fat chicken.”
Then my sweet boy turned to his older brother who had just learned to read, “See I can read Andrew!”
The sibling jealousI strikes again.
