Choosing Joy

This past week was a normal week with highs and lows, moments worth remembering and moments worth forgetting. And having lived almost a half century, I have finally figured out some things. Life consists of a few really spectacular events like the day I graduated from college, the day I got married, and the day my daughter was born. It also consists of a few really horrific events like the day my first husband died, the day my best friend died, the day my father died, and the day I was in an automobile accident. But the really important events, the events that define my life, are the many moments in between. The every day moments, that while possibly not extraordinary, are the ones that give me opportunity to choose joy and see beauty in God's creation.

The good moments that bring a smile to my face along with the bad moments that I can allow to ruin my day or I can decide to face with a positive outlook. Joyful and beautiful moments like birds visiting our feeders, making art on a cookie canvas, weeding the garden and enjoying the flowers, and Easter with my family.

And bad moments like the fact that Easter Sunday was the fourth anniversary of my father's trip to heaven. But as I mentioned before, I had a choice. A choice to either wallow in my sorry and loss or a choice to remember the multitude of wonderful memories I have from the years I was able to spend with my father. I chose to remember.

And it never ceases to amaze me how often I pick a random book out of my stack from the library and it coincides with something that has gone on in my week. This week's random book was called Here in the Garden and it was the story of a boy choosing to remember the beautiful moments he once shared with a pet rabbit. And although the rabbit was missed beyond measure, the boy chose joy. He chose to think of all the wonderful days they had been able to share.

Well, that about wraps it up for this week. Join me next week for another exciting episode, same crazy time, same crazy channel. Also be sure to drop by and join the Literacy Musings Monday Blog Hop where you will find other great blogs, or my personal website, Fun With Aileen, where you will find more on reading, writing, and my very own early grade Fern Valley chapter book series and my Quack and Daisy picture book series. And finally, you can find me on twitter @AileenWStewart if you want an extremely brief glimpse into my days. 

The Therapy of Faith and Writing

It has been a tough year for my family so far. First my daughter and I were sick for close to two months catching one bug after an other. Then, early this week my father went home to be with the Lord. Having already lost my first husband, two father-in-laws, one mother-in-law, and my best friend of 28 years, I can say that this is not the first time I have been dealt the hand of grief and it will probably not be the last. But what I have found through it all is that my faith and my writing are both therapeutic.

When my first husband went to be with the Lord, my grief was so deep, that despite believing he was in a place of wholeness and perfection, I needed some kind of an outlet. As I cried unto the Lord for relief I was amazed to hear a tune in my head that was soon joined by words. Never having had any musical talent whatsoever, I was amazed to find that I had been sent a song from heaven which I titled "Let the Joy Return". Shortly thereafter I also had the inspiration to start writing letters to my dearly departed. I would write down what I had been doing, how I missed his company, and how I knew despite it all that the Lord would comfort and guide me.

The mere acts of  trusting in the Lord and writing down what was inside me brought immeasurable comfort. I found this to continue to be true when my father-in-law, who I loved dearly, went to be with the Lord. I wrote a poem expressing that despite our family's grief, we were elated that he walked the streets of gold. So in keeping with past practice, when my father made his journey home  I worked hard at remembering where he now was, who he was now with, and how he was no longer a man of sorrow, pain, or tears. And I wrote. I wrote a poem of remembrance which I would like to share with you now.

I am saddened you're not by my side
But I rejoice at the same time
For you are in a better place
A place of great design

I think of the small caterpillar
Emerging from his cocoon
Amazed he is a butterfly
Dancing to a new tune

I think that's what you're doing
In your new body whole and fine
Delighting in your Savior
Forever and all time

It brings me such great pleasure
To know your holy fate
No more tears and sorrows
Just a perfect state

And while I'll shed a tear or two
I know I will survive
Because my loved and cherished dad
You're the one who's truly alive!

So in parting I would like to say that when life get's you down or gives you large burdens to bear, turn them over to the Lord and then turn your thoughts to writing.

Signing off for now with wishes for a bright and beautiful day!