Category Archives: Joy

Fighting the Good Fight

Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Hope, Joy, Strength by

Life is not always about puppies, hugs, and an unlimited supply of my favorite tortilla chips! There are times when “embracing my joy” eludes me. The challenging times. The moments that are often most memorable but I’d rather forget. But this is the essence of life, isn’t it? This is what makes us who we are. And it’s the multitude of these experiences that allow me to feel this life I’m living.

As misery breeds only sorrow, so does joy inspire moments of peace, snippets of laughter and, simply put, a more pleasurable life. As I move forward in my life, I do so with enthusiasm for more and everlasting hope. I’m grateful for the joyful moments knowing it’s only the beginning. There’s more to come.

And through it all, my faith is unwavering.

Sharon – Embracing My Joy

“I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have served the Lord faithfully.” – 2 Timothy 4:7

Reflection and Renewal

Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Joy, Love by

I’ve lost count of how many of my disappointments have transitioned themselves into blessings. I find I often move forward from a setback and, if I’m lucky, upward. Somehow, I think this is the plan for all of us; not ours, but His.

The new year is well underway and though many of us take advantage of the first of the year as a new beginning, my fresh start begins on Easter Sunday. It’s an opportunity to reinvent myself after all the sacrifice has been made.

Whether I’ve given up tortilla chips, lengthy Facebook sessions, or have gone through some kind of emotional turmoil during the last season, I can now reflect on my ordeal and begin again. I can allow myself a rebirth, a renewal, leaving behind all the discord that has, hopefully, made me a better person while I’ve deepened my relationship with God.

As we progress into the coming seasons, I anticipate more triumphs and less regrets, more joy and less worry, more love and less fear. Each morning I’ll wake with a fresh outlook and a deeper appreciation for just how precious each day is.

And each new day is yet another chance to embrace my joy.

Sharon – Embracing my Joy

“…just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in the newness of life.” Romans 6:4

Blessed

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Every day I walk in optimal health, love, joy, and prosperity.

Sharon – Embracing My Joy

“When you focus on being a blessing, God makes sure that you are always blessed in abundance.” – Joel Osteen

An Open Heart

Posted in Faith, Gratitude, Joy, Love by

I’ve come to appreciate the importance of having an open heart on the bumpy roads and the smooth. An open heart brings us joy and peace. A closed or hardened heart brings burden, prevents us from caring or feeling all the good life has to offer, and pushes love away. It creates a gap between us and God and distances us from all the good we deserve.

Being open-hearted is like a double-edged sword for the good. The benefits are both self-serving and for others. During a recent challenging time, I prayed for an open heart. Everyday I thanked God for blessing me with His love and strength, with patience and forgiveness, and to be compassionate in a situation that brought nothing but destructive emotions. I asked for others to be open and receptive to the good in the situation rather than dwelling on the negative aspects and to let God in, always trusting they would obtain all I was praying for myself. Thankfully, all turned out for the best.

The bonus of having a pure and open heart: we get to feel love in all ways. After all, who doesn’t want or need to love or be loved?

Sharon – Embracing My Joy

“Gratefulness leads to a widely opened heart. You cannot receive anything great in life with a closed heart. Be grateful and reap the benefits!” ― Assegid Habtewold, The 9 Cardinal Building Blocks: For Continued Success in Leadership

Don’t Ever Let Them Steal Your Joy!

Posted in Joy by

We’re human. We’re bound to experience the odd rough day. Traffic, bad day at the office, stormy and messy weather, running late, crossing paths with a not-so-joyful-soul; it all makes for a crummy day. One that makes you want to crawl back into bed and wake up to a fresh new start.

Ideally, the best way to counteract misery and keep your joy is to avoid it all together. In real life, we can’t always eliminate uncomfortable situations from our daily routine. Coping with the doom and gloom and overcoming it is nothing short of a survival skill. Here’s some of my ammunition:

Prayer. Sharing my frustration, tears, anger, or worries with God. He always listens. Prayer brings me to a place of comfort, faith, and strength. I turn all my pain over to God knowing that He’s in control. In so doing, I can be sure all will work out for the best.

Yoga. There’s nothing more calming and grounding than 45 minutes of focusing on my own breath, stretching into poses, and balancing into stillness. It takes me back to my own reality while taking me out of the temporary chaos that stirred up any anxiety.

Exercise. I walk it off. Whether in the sunshine or on my treadmill, pumping the endorphins is a sure way of lifting my mood. The plus side, extra weight keeps its distance.

A time out. It’s not just for toddlers. In the heat of the moment, I walk away. Take a few deep breaths. Ask God for patience and strength. Return, if I must, with a clearer head, a stronger reserve, and the faith that soon the distressing incident will be nothing but a memory.

Vent. That one good friend who listens to my woes, makes me giggle, and pulls me up from the dumps. During these heart-to-heart talks, I’m reminded that I’m truly blessed.

Food. I’m an advocate of comfort food, savoring tasty treats that provide comfort. For me, there’s nothing like plunging a fork into macaroni and cheese, scooping up gooey cheese into a scoopable chip, or swirling a spoon into a mound of ice cream and relishing every bite. Sometimes a girl just needs a taste of comfort to help soothe her soul.

A soothed soul will always take me back to my joyful heart.

Sharon – Embracing My Joy

“The excursion is the same when you go looking for your sorrow as when you go looking for your joy.” Eudora Welty