Holiday Joy
This holiday season, we have so much to be thankful for! Our family has grown, and our hearts are overflowing with love and happiness. We are full of holiday joy!
God has carried us through some extremely difficult times leading up to this point. Now our family is rejoicing together for the beautiful little one God has blessed us with.
I have always known my heart carried such unconditional love for both of my daughters. The love runs deep and wide, like the ocean waters. Just when I didn’t think my heart could hold any more love, along came my precious and beautiful Grandson!
That September evening, my oldest daughter and son-in-law visited us for our Monday evening meal. We get together more often, but Monday seemed to be the one day we all settled into for a weekday meal together at my house. They came over, we ate, laughed, and enjoyed each other’s company. My daughter let me know when they arrived safely at home not realizing what the night held for them. My husband and I went to bed with our hearts full after spending the evening with them right along with my youngest daughter. Ah, such a sweet time we all had together.
Then …
I was awakened by my youngest daughter standing by my bedside with her sister on the phone. For some reason, my phone did not ring when my oldest daughter called to say her water broke.
WHAT?!
Oh my!
I sprang to my feet, trying not to panic as this was the moment we had all been waiting for.
Fast forward to the hospital room where we were escorted to find my daughter and son-in-law wide-eyed and nervous yet so happy. The moment had arrived when they would meet their precious little boy!
They wheeled my daughter away, and my husband and I sat praying for them. Trying not to worry, yet knowing absolutely no peace until we received word from our son-in-law advising Mother and Baby were both doing well. Oh, thank you, God, thank you!! We would breathe a little easier now, but this mama’s heart was not going to be completely reassured until I laid eyes upon my daughter and my new grandson! It seemed like forever before we were allowed back to see them in recovery. When my son-in-law came to get me, I grabbed the only thing available at that moment – paper towels – as I knew I was going to cry. I had no idea the impact laying eyes on them both for the first time after delivery would have on me, but I knew there would be some tears.
When I walked into the room, my sweet daughter was smiling so big and glowing as she held her newborn baby in her arms! I was only two steps into the room when emotions swooped in, and I started sobbing almost uncontrollably at the sight. It was tears of relief that they were both okay – better than okay, actually, they were both perfect – and tears of extreme joy!
My first grandchild!! I thought surely my heart was going to burst wide open right there in the room.
It took me several minutes before I could get myself together enough to turn to face them again. Then my daughter asked me to sit on the edge of the bed, and she placed the sweetest little angel in my arms! I held him close to me and just prayed silently to myself, “Thank you, God,” as tears trickled down my cheeks yet again.
Yes, we have so very much to be thankful for this holiday season, and we are!! We truly are!
God’s Not Dead – In God We Trust
Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart
How many times have you laid down to rest at night, snuggled into bed, and took a deep breath only not to be engulfed in sleep, but instead worry and anxiety? The things that you need to take care of come to mind, and your anxiety starts to keep you up at night. I think we’ve all been there if we are honest with ourselves and each other. What if you had an option when you go to bed at night instead of carrying the worries, stress, and anxiety with you? What if you revised your nighttime routine to include a book to try to clear your mind so that you can have a peaceful night’s sleep? If this is something that you are interested in, Lysa TerKeurst and Proverbs 31 Ministries have developed “Clear Mind, Peaceful Heart” which is a nightly devotional. Perhaps reading this before bed will enable you to sleep well in a world that is full of troubles and worry. There are so many beautiful words of wisdom in this devotional! Friend, I think you would benefit greatly!
We all know worrying won’t get us anywhere! Yet, we are all guilty of it. We know worrying about something beyond our control won’t do anything but harm us and our mental health. However, it’s human nature to want to “fix” that which is out of our power. Worry deprives us of sleep and fills us with anxiety. It’s so easy to say, “Turn all of your troubles over to God.” Yet, it is so hard to do, especially when your head hits the pillow at night!
Often I’ve worried about things that did not even come to pass. I robbed my present self and family members around me of the joy that I could have had that day when I was worried about something that “might” happen in the future. We can think about the worst-case scenarios in just about every situation worrying about the “what ifs.” Here’s a “what if” for you – what if we read the devotional, calmed our hearts, and said our prayers which allows us to release all of the troubles from our hearts to God above? Even if you fall asleep in the middle of your prayers afterward, don’t be filled with remorse or dread. Also, please don’t feel like you’re a failure because you couldn’t stay awake to finish your prayer. Instead, think of it as receiving God’s divine comfort. As a mother holds her newborn baby and rocks the baby to sleep, think of it as God holding you in His mighty arms lulling you into a peaceful sleep as you have cast all of your cares on him.
Now, I’m not saying it will happen instantaneously after reading a passage from this book. What I am hoping for, though, is that focusing on something other than your problems will help relieve your mind somewhat so you can drift off to sleep and stay asleep throughout the night instead of replaying any problem over in your head on repeat all night long.
Would you be willing to try it? What do you have to lose? NOTHING! You have everything to gain by picking up your copy of this devotional packed with wisdom from other Godly women (pssst, we made it easy – read more and order by clicking here). Then, incorporate this into your nighttime routine so you can rest peacefully! Let the words in this devotional and God almighty reassure you each night that you are so very loved and cared for. Allow yourself to feel safe in the Lord as if He is right there with you holding you and rocking you into a peaceful sleep.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Harper Collins Christian Publishing for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.
