Search Results for: sarah

This weekend, I’ve been putzing around doing my annual spring cleaning. It usually starts simple, like “Oh, I’m just going to clean the bathroom.” Then, before you know it, I’ve dumped out all the vanity drawers and started organizing the hoarded travel toiletries and expired makeup samples. Simultaneously I somehow manage to uproot my entire […]

I like to think of myself as a Yes-girl. I’m flexible, willing to go with the flow, and small change doesn’t throw me for a loop. I can often say yes to last minute plans and go along for the ride. (Don’t get me wrong–as a mom of twins I now also thrive off of a routine and a schedule!) But I like to be the fun-loving gal who’s down for anything.

I believe that through prayer we have a ticket to a personalized conversation with the Creator of the universe; yet it is something I take advantage of every day. One thing I am notorious for is taking things to the Lord in prayer, but then failing to praise Him when those prayers are answered.

The chaos of parenthood, which many of you know all too well, reminds me of the well-known story of Mary and Martha.

First, not every woman’s pregnancy journey is joyful. Be mindful of that. (Now I know a lot of women struggle with infertility, and would give anything to become a parent. And I don’t understand God’s reasoning behind those struggles, either. But I’m not going to get into that today.) But I know for me, it was difficult to slap on a smile day in and day out when this is NOT what I had signed up for. I struggled a lot to brush off insensitive comments from strangers, friends, and family. Sometimes I just shut them out because it was less painful. One of my favorite verses that is hanging up in our living room is, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12, NIV) I tried to keep that as my mantra in pregnancy, and now in parenthood.

It’s hard to remember the last time I was truly joyful. I’m a generally happy, positive person. But when was the last time I truly exuberated joy? I’ve heard the difference between happiness and joy described many ways, but this is one of my favorites: Happiness is an emotion that can disappear as quickly as it comes, but Joy is a choice.