JOY IN THE ORDINARY

 

Sometimes we want to have the “big” things in our lives.

A major event or special vacation, or even visits from

Special friends or relatives. These are all good and

Usually very enjoyable. But do we have to wait for

That big event to keep us filled with joy?

Recently the concept of joy in the ordinary has 

Filled my thoughts and made my life more fulfilled.

The little, everyday, ordinary events have brought joy;

Not the joy that overwhelms me, but rather a joy of living .

What do I mean when I say that I have contentment?

I think of all the ways my life is filled with joyous contentment..

The hug from Mary while I am sitting at the computer;

The cheery comment, telling me all is well;

The hugs from daughters and granddaughters;

The greetings from grandsons to hesitant to hug!

The daily calls from my oldest child, just to check in;

The emails from our children far away and the

Loving questions from a daughter close at hand,

Asking how I am doing, or if I need encouragement.

How can I not say, “All is well, I have all I need.”

Children are such a wondrous blessing,

I am privileged to have them in my daily life.

My contentment touches me in many other ways.

The birds that sing just outside our door;

The squirrels scampering across our parking lot;

The flowers blooming so brightly on our yard,

And the various blooms that make our balcony sparkle.

The sun shining brightly through our windows,

The moon at night brings special joy.

The smile from a stranger as we pass each other;

Friendly, helpful clerks at our local store;

The gas attendant who cheerfully fills my car’s tank;

 Our friends who call us, just to chat,

Or maybe suggest a time to meet for coffee.

The greeting from the person next to me

As we sit together at our church.

My joy in the ordinary parts of life include the 

Mundane actions that fill my days.

To sit at my computer writing what my mind suggests;

To have Mary sewing or quilting right next to me.

To chat as we make meals together,

Or also as we plan the meals for the week.

We sit together and check our calendars for any 

Special events or meetings that we cannot miss.

Such actions may seem very ordinary and mundane,

And duplicated in may homes across our land.

They bring much joy because my joy is shared.

With someone who loves me and seeks to make

My life much better than it was alone.

To have a loved one to walk alongside life’s pathway,

Is truly what makes a life fulfilled and worth the living..

Aging: Frustrations and Joys

Sometimes I sit and wonder why my body

Does not match my thoughts of youthfulness.

My body says I am old and pain comes with that aging.

I often think about the active life I’ve lived.

The joys of soccer; the racquet sports that kept me fit!

But when I sit because of pain that hinders me,

I must recognize my body’s message to me.

The pain frustrates me, but then I am reminded of all the joys

I have in life; a loving family and so many friends.

A church family that too keeps me in tune

With what God is telling me for my present age

And not to dwell on what once was!

I have been diagnosed with spinal stenosis

My doctor stated, “There is no cure, learn to live with it.”

I used to walk a lot; now not so much.

My cane goes everywhere I go; 

Recently I left it,thinking all is good,

But when I walked back to the car,

My legs gave way and I tumbled, between the car and curb!

I have scrapes and bruises, and ribs that hurt.

How foolish–and now I know that a cane is a must.

Sometimes a walker is even a better choice, 

It sits in the car, ready to be used, but pride comes in the way 

And I try to go it all alone–not smart!

I have experienced many times of grief; 

Losses that have complicated my life 

And overshadowed any joy and gladness.. 

But after loss comes gain–and now I have a new partner

Who brings joy and makes my life complete again.

 The joy of sitting on our fourth floor balcony,

Where we focus on the things around us;

We watch the birds, the squirrels, and the rabbits.

We marvel as the birds swoop down 

And flit around the feeder meant for them.

We watch the comings and goings of the cars and people.

So glad that we can just relax and let the world go by.

I no longer have the energy of my soccer-playing days,

But God, our Creator, is so very good to us.

 We have everything we need to have a life of joy

My brain still works even though my legs are weak.

I am so blessed that Mary and I are able to challenge each other

As we work on puzzles or word games that test our minds.

Or have frequent conversations around the books we’ve read.

I am learning to be thankful in all things, because

We cannot let the past control today. 

Our life is different from the pleasures of the past.

We thank our God, our Sustainer, who makes each day

A day of joy and wonder and thankfulness for all we do have.