{"id":43,"date":"2019-03-12T19:09:00","date_gmt":"2019-03-12T19:09:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/cherylrostek.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/12\/joy-is\/"},"modified":"2019-03-12T19:09:00","modified_gmt":"2019-03-12T19:09:00","slug":"joy-is","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cherylrostek.com\/index.php\/2019\/03\/12\/joy-is\/","title":{"rendered":"Joy Is"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Here in the Fraser Valley, BC it is extremely late for a snowfall in March.  <\/span>It is unusual and yet beautifully delightful for the poet in me. The flakes are huge, gorgeous and romantic. (My 3 year old daughter just called it \u201cdancing snow\u201d! I love it!)  <\/span>I have been working on poetry more often, keeping it mostly private for now, hoping to work on a compilation shortly.  <\/span>But today I will share the poem that came when I was walking home from dropping my daughter off at school.  <\/span>A few months ago I wrote in my journal: \u201cCheryl, rediscover the poet in you, even if you think she is weird.\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I chuckle at myself.   <\/span>But in embracing the poet in myself (for those of you who know Enneagram personality stuff, the \u201c4\u201d in me)  <\/span>I will share the poem I wrote today. My hope is that it will bring you an increased measure of Joy in your day.  <\/span>The \u201cscientist\u201d within me has provided a commentary below. Wink wink.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
XOXO,<\/div>\n
Cheryl<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Joy Is<\/o:p><\/u><\/b><\/div>\n
Joy is the delight of moisture on my brow that makes my heart thrill.<\/span>
It is the snowy rain that whets my soul<\/span>
It is the sweat upon my forehead<\/span>
Reminding me I am still alive<\/span>
SO ALIVE!<\/span><\/p>\n

Joy is the mystery that finds me satisfied<\/span>
In snow<\/span>
In rain<\/span>
In desert storms.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joy is the fuel that propels me forward gliding through my days<\/span>
Though the forces of friction in my life <\/span>
Are strong<\/span>
Warring against me<\/span>
With so much might.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joy is the salve my wounded heart needs.<\/span>
It is the beauty in the world that can ALWAYS be found<\/span>
When eyes are open and prepared.<\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n


Joy is the goodness in this LIFE<\/span>
available every day <\/span>
In all these moments<\/span>
That try to pass us by in hurried fashion.<\/span>
Joy is the gift for those who slow their pace.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joy is the little humans inhabiting my home, my heart, my entire world<\/span>
With so much energy and innocence,<\/span>
wonder and belief.<\/span>

<\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n

Oh thank you God!<\/span>
That joy is mine.<\/span>

<\/o:p><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Commentary:<\/o:p><\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The idea that joy can be found despite life\u2019s circumstances is wild and uncommon; but, so very life giving!  <\/span>Who wouldn\u2019t want joy everyday?! Doesn\u2019t the idea that joy can be found in all<\/i><\/b> of life\u2019s circumstances, make the slog of life more bearable? My personal mandate is to find HOPE in \u201chopeless\u201d situations and to help others do the same.  <\/span>A huge piece of finding hope in dismal days is opening your heart to beauty, to love, to courage, to vulnerability, to spirituality, to faith.  <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I love Brene Brown.  <\/span>She teaches that courage requires vulnerability.  <\/span>Furthermore, she says, \u201cfaith is the vulnerability that flows between the shores of certainty.\u201d  <\/span>She also says \u201cspirituality is inherently vulnerable.\u201d<\/div>\n
I love these words.  <\/span>They resonate deeply with me.  <\/span>Spirituality and faith are so important, especially in times where joy and hope feel scarce. <\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I have personally found the ability to find joy and hope in crappy times of life through the power of Jesus Christ (spirituality, faith and therefore inherent vulnerability).  <\/span>I need something much bigger than myself when everything is falling apart or when nothing seems to make sense or when I reach a dead-end in life *.  <\/span>Jesus and his life-giving power is my \u201csomething bigger than myself\u201d.  <\/span> <\/span>I\u2019ve shared in the past how before my twins were born I posted this verse on my wall:<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Psalm 118:24 \u201cThis is the day that the LORD has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it.\u201d<\/o:p><\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
I knew being a twin mom was going to be difficult (understatement!!!!) so valiantly I was going to find my joy in the Lord during those days.  <\/span>Insert belly laugh for my blind ambition and naivety.  <\/span>Ironically (but Jesus is full of irony and upside down wisdom), I did not grasp the true essence of this verse until brain cancer entered my head and my world and my life was unraveling in front of me.  <\/span>It was then<\/i>that I began to see, though I don\u2019t control and choose what life throws at me, you can be sure I DO control and choose my response and attitude to it.     <\/span><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
How do I rejoice and be glad about each day?  <\/span>I choose<\/i><\/b> to find Joy every day.  <\/span>For me and my personal faith that means that I choose to believe that I am empowered by the Holy Spirit living inside me who enables me to see joy in these little moments (which in culmination are HUGE moments).<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Brene brown<\/b> further says (Oh my perfectionist and performance driven, -ennaegram #3- self needed to hear this one!): \u201cin the ordinary moments of our lives is where we can find the most joy.\u201d<\/o:p><\/i><\/b><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
The most joy is found in ordinary moments when we have eyes, hearts, spirits open to see, feel, experience.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
This is good news people!  <\/span>Joy is attainable for all of us, everyday!  <\/span>Wow!  <\/span>Let\u2019s spread this good news!  <\/span>It is absolutely LIFE CHANGING!!!!!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Choose joy.  <\/span>Share joy.  <\/span>Create Joy. Find Joy. Proclaim Joy. Spread Joy! Let\u2019s make our world a more joyous place!!!<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
__________________________________________________________ <\/span> <\/span><\/div>\n
*(and indeed even when life seems to be traipsing along just nicely)<\/o:p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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