I saw last week that Home With the Boys is hosting a bloggy book club. When I read that they were reading Seasons of a Mothers Heart by Sally Clarkson, I knew that I had to join in the discussion. Of course, I decided to join last Thursday, and the link up for Chapter One would go up on Friday. Yeah~ one day is not enough for me to read two intros and one chapter and then blog about it. So I'm late. But that's okay.

I love reading Sally Clarkson's words. She is such a lovely conduit of God's wisdom and grace. I love how she strings words together. Somehow, she always speaks right to my soul.

This time is no different. I have so many passages underlined that I want to return to meditate on; that resonate with my spirit.

In Chapter One, Mrs. Clarkson told a story of a particularly frantic birthday party and all the hectic preparations that make mothers scold their children to help. After all, we are trying to give the child a wonderful party that they will enjoy. All the while, her little birthday girl wanted to know when the party would be over so that she could go back to the fun of playing with her pinwheel on the deck. Frantic moments stole the fun. She writes:

Unfortunately, in my anger I made a bigger mess of the situation and missed the joy of that moment. But time and experience have since tempered my temper. Today, I would get a big laugh out of my chocolate-covered child and take a few snapshots. I would choose joy.

I am more convinced than ever that even in the midst of the mundane, burdensome, and oftentimes frustrating tasks of life allotted to me as a mother, God wants me to find his joy. He wants every single day of my life to be a celebration of his blessings, whether large or small. He wants me to celebrate life– the life he has given me. 

 

Isn't that rich? And so right.

We must, every one of us, purpose to find His joy in the midst of the busyness of life- in the midst of all the things that go haywire on a daily basis. We must seek to choose joy every day. Sometimes we must choose it many times a day. (We've all had those kinds of days, right?)

This was a timely reminder for me. In the midst of new schedules and new routines, I must remember what is truly important. And it's not getting to co-op on time. It's not getting math checked off the list. It's choosing joy with my children every day. It's cherishing the moments God has given me with my family– while I have them. 

Tomorrow is our first day of co-op. I hope it will find me pursuing joy with my children. I am declaring now that we are going to have loads of fun!

What about you? What will tomorrow finding you pursuing?