Consider It All Joy

James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

New Living Translation (©2007)
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.



Generally when I write a blog post I've come to some sort of a conclusion or summary about events in our lives. Lately, I've been searching for a common theme or a life's lesson to "take away" from the dramas swirling around us.

I didn't write for awhile, not only because I couldn't find time, but I also couldn't find any inspiration.

But tonight I'm determined to be inspired...by mud.

This has been an exceptionally warm, wet winter. Where the ground would normally be frozen, we are parking in a great big, rutted up, messy, muddy driveway. The ground all around our house is saturated. The dog, the kids..we ALL step in it and track it into the house. Our shoes and boots are caked with dirt. I wash loads and loads of coats and school uniform pants.

Last weekend we were expecting company on Sunday. I spent the day vacuuming and scrubbing the floors. The company never came. Arguments followed late into the night.

Those same folks came by this week on Monday morning to take our children to a museum. They'd never been to our house before. And right before they arrived, the little ones went outside, rolled themselves in the mud, and then came back in, leaving black footprints from the back door, through the kitchen and living room, up the stairs, through the hallway, and into their rooms.

It was a major joy stealer.

Stress at work. Difficult family situations. Two house fires affecting our neighbors and friends. A dead lamb. A 4:00 a.m. call from my husband who ran out of gas on the way to work. An irresponsible tenant.

And mud. The Bible says that we are not only to "tolerate" and "be patient" through these situations but to consider them joy.

How can I? Really, how might I?

He challenges me to approach muddy messes, substance abuse, mental illness, deadlines, computer issues...with an attitude of love.