Thankful Thursday 1/31

Taking The Artist as my inspiration ... here are ten things I'm grateful for this week.

one: a warm, cozy house

(with wind chills dipping into the thirties below zero outside, 

it's especially easy to be grateful for this one this week)

two: warm oatmeal raisin cookies

(I haven't baked cookies in a while -- a task usually done by The Artist -- 

but having a light reading load this week and unable to warm up sitting still on the couch 

led me to the kitchen -- best oatmeal cookie recipe ever, our go-to)

three: a pretty pink origami tulip 

(from The Bookworm -- a new skill learned in her Arts and Crafts for Girls co-op class)

four: my birdhouse

(new visitor this week: the Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco)

five: sunshine

(streaming through my bedroom window on this frosty morning)

six: Pip

(our playful Budgie -- so sweet to have bird songs in the house,
especially in the dead of winter)

seven: Mr. Bubbles LaCroix

(The Athlete's Beta fish moved down to the kitchen this week while his owner is in Haiti 

-- so we don't forget to feed him! -- and we've been enjoying his bubbles all week)

eight: having my hubby at home

(sub-zero temperatures meant he got to work at home twice this week)

(note the pile of blankets on the empty couch)

(I'm sitting on the floor in front of the fireplace
wrapped in an electric blanket he just brought me!)

nine: live bedtime music

(The Musician knows what I like when it's time to relax)

(He doesn't want me to post this -- he just learned this song that day 

and the video was taken on my phone so the quality isn't very good.)

(But I'm the Mom.) (And I like it.)

ten: The Athlete will be back in the U.S. day after tomorrow

(the multiple daily notifications of unrest and danger
from the Embassy in Haiti are not helpful)

What are you grateful for this week?

The JOY of the Lord is our Strength - Guest Post by Richard Casey

“The modern philosopher had told me again and again that I was in the right place, and I still felt depressed even in acquiescence. But I had heard that I was in the wrong place, and my soul sang for joy like a bird in spring.” ― G.K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy

We Christians are frequently in the habit of adopting the ways of thinking of the prevailing culture, or we assume God is a certain way, that He will do this or that thing, or we conclude that our circumstances are one way or another. Routinely, we make false assumptions about the way things are, or about God. Mercifully, however, God is the master of paradox and surprise endings. We see this clearly in the Beatitudes. The meek will inherit the Earth; the mournful will be comforted; the persecuted are blessed. The Gospel challenges our expectations. Remorse for sin and confession result in forgiveness, and healing. The sorrow of death leads to the joy of the resurrection. The danger for us is that we get trapped by our own notions, group think, or the the spirit of the age, and fail to discern what God is really up to. 

In the 8th chapter of the book of Nehemiah we read the fascinating story of Nehemiah and the reading of the Law. The Israelites had returned to Jerusalem after their release from Persia under the King Artaxerxes. Nehemiah was Governor, and Ezra the High Priest. In the narrative the people are brought together and the Law of Moses is read, translated (the Israelites would likely have spoken Chaldean) and explained. The crowd, upon hearing the Law read to them were distressed, saddened and wept. Hearing the Law of Moses did not bring them them joy, but rather sadness and distress. Their veil of complacency was removed, and they saw their spiritual condition as it truly was. The reaction of Nehemiah and Ezra, however, was not one of reprimand or reproof, but rather they declared the day holy and told everyone to return to their homes and have a party, rejoice, and share what they have with those in need! The people were told to do this because “the joy of the Lord is our strength.”

So, what do we make of this story? How do we find joy in the revelation of our complacency and the unveiling of truth? The self discovery of our own sin is really a mercy of God. As Christians this revelation brings remorse, confession and forgiveness. This forgiveness brings healing and joy, and this joy is a blessing to be shared. The Israelites under Nehemiah and Ezra show us the proper response to the unveiling of truth in our lives. Throw a party and share your blessings from God. This, after all, is the Gospel.

Lent - Part II

"Have a joyful Lent."

"Have a good Lent."

Have a joyful Lent? Is Lent supposed to be good?

Why does something about this strike us as not quite right?

Why do we feel the need to say, "No, I want my Lent to be bad -- I want it to be hard"? Why do we think that penance has to hurt to be worthwhile? That if we're not unhappy or suffering, we're not doing something right?

This is how Father started his Ash Wednesday homily yesterday.

And his words fit perfectly with my resolutions this year. Confirmation. A small blessing. Gratitude filled my heart. Tears filled my eyes.

You see, Lent is not about doing deadly things, Father explained. It is about putting to death that within us which is deadly to us.

Prayer does this. Fasting does this. Works of charity do this.

And joy does this.

Joy puts to death that which is deadly within me.

Joy brings life.

Joy is born of gratitude. Of this, I am fully convinced.

I read this morning:

From all of our beginnings, we keep reliving the Garden story.

Satan, he wanted more. More power, more glory. Ultimately, in his essence, Satan is an ingrate. And he sinks his venom into the heart of Eden. Satan's sin becomes the first sin of all humanity: the sin of ingratitude. Adam and Eve are, simply, painfully, ungrateful for what God gave.

Isn't that the catalyst of all my sins?

Our fall was, has always been, and always will be, that we aren't satisfied in God and what He gives. We hunger for something more, something other.
(Ann Voskamp, one thousand gifts)

My resolution this Lent is to put to death that within me which is ungrateful. I resolved to pray in gratitude, to recognize the many blessings in my life throughout my days. To fast from whining and complaining and desiring that which has not been given to me. To teach my children gratitude. And so to bring joy to our home.

I will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the Lord.

Psalm 116:17

May you, too, have a JOYful Lent!

Baby JOY

Carl Sandburg once said, "A baby is God's opinion that life should go on."  I would add that a baby is further proof that we were made for joy.  Nothing elicits a smile from a stranger like a baby.  When I am having a bad day, I can't help but smile at my youngest, who is usually grinning up at me -- happy even to hear me yelling at her three older siblings.  And it seems more than coincidental that before she can control her head or her arms, Baby can respond to other people with a smile that animates her whole body.  Babies have to be one of life's undisputed greatest joys.

Since joy is contagious, I want my little bundle of joy to be as near to me as I can have her, as often as I am able.  I know that only too quickly she will be too big.  By the time the fourth child arrives, parents usually have all the baby accoutrements they need.  Upon Baby's arrival, however, I had yet to find something that would enable me to be close to her and allow me to meet the needs of The Girls and The Boy at the same time.  

When I was pregnant with my first child, someone gave me a Snugli.  And it may be okay for older children.  However, none of my three infants found the Snugli very snugly.  And it took at least two people to get the wee one in and out of the thing safely.  And it always seemed the baby was getting lost in it.  Or I was constantly checking to see if they were breathing, since their little faces were pressed into my chest.  And my hands were really not free to be doing other things -- I felt like I had to have one hand, at least, on the baby.

Baby four arrived and I was determined to get rid of the Snugli.  I was ready to try a sling.  I don't know why, but I used to look at sling-wearing mothers as sort of hippie-wannabes.  Things change.  I decided, after perusing the options, to try the Slingling.  I liked the no adjustments, no straps, no hoops, no rings -- it's really just a piece of fabric (really cool fabric) sized for the wearer, not the babe.  

I loved my Slingling right away.  And so did Baby.  And so did everyone else.  I can't tell you how many times friends and strangers alike have approached me and Baby to tell me how natural and comfortable and snugly we both look.  

And my hands are free to check The Boy's teeth or braid The Girls' hair.  And I can look down at my bundle of joy when I'm washing the dishes or loading the laundry.  And I can remember what's important.  (And we can dance together at weddings!)

Supposedly I can carry Baby in the Slingling in several different ways until she reaches approximately thirty-five pounds.  We are just now moving from the "cradle carry" to bigger and better things (aka as the "hip carry"), as Baby wants to see what's going on around her.  

As for the Snugli?  My niece has found a great use for it!

Why "made for JOY"?

John Paul II said, "God made us for joy."  I tend toward cynicism, complaining, and worry, not one of which brings joy.  For those few readers who may join me, this blog is an effort to foster that for which we were made -- JOY.  The joy that ...

... is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

... is constant.

... brings peace.

... is born of gratitude.

... is a choice.

... is deeper than mere happiness, because it can weather unhappiness, suffering, and hardship.

... "is an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction."  C.S. Lewis

... "is the most infallible sign of the presence of God." Pierre Teilhard de Chardin