Desires for 2012
“A desire accomplished is sweet to the soul…” ~Proverbs 13:19
“…Desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” ~Proverbs 13:12
A couple of weeks ago, I sent a dear friend an e-mail. I was pouring out my heart and my desires for a life well-lived, without any regrets. As I re-read what I had written, I was struck by my intense longing for the words to be true. Here is what I wrote:
“I really want to look back and see hours and hours and hours of just connecting with my kids and reaching their hearts and loving on them. And also loving on my husband and blessing him.”
These thoughts are somewhat taken out of context here, as I’m only sharing a couple of sentences from quite a few paragraphs of what was originally written. But the thought is still there…I want to give my life to loving these precious people that the Lord has blessed me with. I want to look back with a peaceful contentment in my heart that I actually did love my husband and children well. I want to put my whole heart into it!
As the years of mothering add up and I gain more real-life experience as a mother (now of an almost-thirteen-year-old, navigating young-womanhood, down to our sweet two-year-old), I am seeing that motherhood is a real and sobering and beautiful calling. It’s a whole-life calling. It takes everything you’ve got to do it well. And even then you can’t do it well–without Him. Without the enabling grace and power of Jesus Christ I still won’t get it right. I need His help day by day and hour by hour and minute by minute.
Another thing I’ve learned is that mothering takes time. Lots of time. Time reading, playing, cooking, cleaning, loving, tending, caring, bathing, changing, rocking, hugging, kissing, washing, nursing, carrying, teaching, discipling, mentoring, helping, showing, bandaging, fixing, organizing, creating, and more loving. It all takes time.
I think it was hard for me to get this at first. It took me a long time to understand. After years of working a five-day-a-week 8:00-5:00 job with evenings and weekends off, paid vacation, and sick leave–well, motherhood kind of took me by surprise. I had spent all of my girlhood days dreaming of motherhood. But I wasn’t really prepared for the realities of it. Especially the fact that there are no paid vacations or times off-duty. But now I’m getting it. I’m embracing the laying down of my life to pour into my children. I want to be faithful to this calling.
And my wonderful husband…have I ever mentioned what a blessing he is to me? I don’t want to embarrass him, but he has such a servant’s heart. He’s a great cook and a great story-teller. He’s great at reading aloud and giving piggy-back rides and jumping on the trampoline with the kids. He’s cooked more meals, given more baths, and changed more diapers than I can count. When he serves me, it makes me want to serve him, too. He is my soul-mate, lover, and friend. I want so much to keep our marriage as a top priority and nurture the deep love that is between us. Sometimes in the midst of all the busyness of bringing up children wives forget about their husbands–I don’t want that to happen!
The desire of my heart for this coming year is that I would be faithful to all that I have been called to as a Christian, wife, and mother.
That I would be faithful to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord. Faithful in serving my family and loving them. Faithful to love the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. Faithful even in the little things.
In light of all these meditations, I have decided to take a break from blogging. I don’t have a firm date set in my mind for my return. I just have so many things I need to do that are priorities over computer time. My plan at this point is to take as long as I need to get things in order and accomplish some important projects here at home.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!
“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
Dear Jarnette,
Thank you so much for your words of blessing and encouragement for my time away. Hearing your testimony about your time away from blogging was encouraging to me and so appreciated.
Many blessings to you and your sweet family!
Joy ~
I, too, stepped away from blogging for a couple of weeks to focus on life…life happening before me…life happening around me. Knitting with those the Lord has put in my path of life this season. Nurturing relationships, prioritizing time spent and looking for the blessings along the way each day ~ especially on the challenging ones. Thankful for reading your wisdom in knowing where the Lord has first called you to be and encouraged by it. May your time away from this outlet, knit tighter bonds, tie heart strings more securely and make precious memories with those you love.
By His Grace ~
Jarnette
Y'all have no idea how much your sweet comments mean to me! Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy days to visit me here and leave such encouraging words. I'm very humbled and blessed. Thank you!
♥Joy
I totally forgot…
Have a Blessed 2012!
And many kisses to give to those kids.
I selfishly hope/Pray that you will come back…
But, only when you are totally rested and ready for it.
I just found you a few weeks ago.
And your blog is so clean and such a Blessing.
But you are first His Daughter, A Wife and Mother.
Then comes the rest.
(I should listen more to my own advise)
Enjoy your break.
Many Blessings
Sandy B.
Dear Joy,
I took a two year break from blogging and am just now getting things back online. I am enjoying reconnecting with friends, and the thought of blogging is now amusing and fun – not robbing me of needed time.
Enjoy the break…I highly recommend it.
I will miss your posts. YOur blog encourages me and I come here to rest on my eyes on your pretty pictures! God bless you and please don't stay away too long. But I do understand!!
Amen, amen, and amen. You and I have hearts that beat the same. I want to look back on my life and have no regrets. I want to KNOW that I was faithful with the time that the Lord blessed me with and used it for His glory. I also step back from blogging from time to time in order to fulfill my all-consuming calling of loving and serving my family.
Way to go!!
You said it all so beautifully, Joy! God bless you as you tend to your home 🙂 and also to your family in the New Year.
Looking forward to when you come back!
♥Collette
Thank you all so much for your kind and encouraging comments!
I know your blog so short. But your words touch me.
I've been wanting to hop in here to leave a comment, but, like you, the busyness of my home and the responsibilities I have as a wife and mom don't always allow it. Thankfully, I finally did find a moment and want to wish you many blessings! With such a young family, your time is certainly needed away from the computer. May you reap many rewards for being so selfless with your time. 🙂 In HIM, ~Lisa
I will miss your wise words, but I admire you for doing what you need to do.
nice post thanks for sharing! blessings soraya
Blessings to you, Joy!! I understand and may your time away be blessed and I look forward to your return in the Lord's time.
I was blessed by your sharing. 🙂
nice post Happy new year look forward to seeing and reading more when you return enjoy your bloggy break i just back from mine and it was needed and nice newest follower http://everydayproductsandmore.blogspot.com/
Thank you for sharing your heart, Joy . . . it was a blessing to read and was encouraging as well.
Praying that the Lord will guide and direct your steps as you seek to minister and serve your family in the ways that the Lord would have you do.
I will miss your posts! But definitely understand. 🙂
Such wonderful and truth-filled words, Joy. Thank you 🙂
Joy– You are a dear with such a sweet, loving heart.
I think the passing of years cause us to consider just where and how we are spending our time.The Lord has been pressing this very thing on my heart recently.
We grow older and our children grow so fast…blink and we just might miss it.Our time to invest in them while little is so brief, but the legacy lasts a lifetime.
Thank you for sharing your heart! Happy New Year sweet friend!♥
I did just recently find your blog and have been blessed by the encouragement towards Christ and home.
Thank you. I'll look for you when you return 🙂
Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing the lovely photos and the Scriptures, too. Yes, I totally understand about taking a blogging break. FAmily has to come first. As you pray about it, God will give you the direction to go 🙂 🙂 Happy New Year to you and your family. Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather 🙂
p.s. I've never heard of cooked egg-nog. i'm going to check that out.
Joy, such a wonderful post. It really made me pause and think about what I want to focus on this year. I love the beginning of a new year, it's like turning to a fresh page and being able to start again. I will miss your posts while you take a break, as your blog is one I always look forward to, but I completely understand! Have a blessed new year!
Your comments are such a blessing to me. Thank you all so much, and I hope your weekend is blessed!
♥Joy
I pray many blessings on your blog break. I just took one and depending on things I might need some more. But for now I am going to guard my time carefully. I can't wait to hear what you have done when you were away.
Blessings and ((HUGS))
-Mary
Joy – I honestly could have written this post myself. Many times a break is a very good thing. So enjoy your time off, and I look forward to hearing more from you upon your return. And in the meantime, I'll peruse your archives! Have a blessed weekend!
I love your heart for your calling…
I pray that you will find a balance and return to blogging. I enjoy connecting with you!
Blessings in the New Year!
Deanna
Such beautiful words!
Take your time. We readers will be here whenever you are ready to return!
Blessings to you in the New Year!
Mrs. White
The Legacy of Home