Joys of the Past

It is a new year! It's only the second week in January and time has flown by. Getting engaged over Christmas was definitely the highlight of the past few weeks, and already the planning has begun. We booked Nazareth Hall for the ceremony and reception, we've also booked the photographer, the florist, we've bought my dress and chosen the bridesmaid dresses. I feel like time is going so fast. I realized today that this Christmas was my last Christmas at home.....and even that is not really fair to say since I've been living in an apartment since September. As I was taking Christmas ornaments down, putting away the nativity, rolling up the lights, I felt really sentimental about my family's tree. It's totally hodge podge, with huge colored lights and a gaudy star which lights up and changes colors. But that's what I grew up with, and I wouldn't want it any other way!

Four of us kids have grown up in this house, switched rooms numerous times, been homeschooled, learned how to play baseball in the front yard and basketball in the driveway, practiced serves for volleyball against the garage door, learned how to swim in the pool which sadly died a few years back, and I will never forget when we bought the swingset, which still stands strong in the back yard. Four family pets have come and gone, grandkids have found their footing in these rooms, and old pictures reflect the change of styles this home has had over the years. I've been thinking about how times change and how different we were all ten years ago. I used to ask my mom, "Mom, how do I know when God speaks to me?" I would agonize over this issue, even cry at times, longing for God to speak to me, that an audible voice would come and fill my yearning. Though I understand now what it's like when God speaks to me, thinking about how I used to agonize over it when I was young reminded me that no matter how old we get, those questions from long ago are evidence of the thirst only God can fill. Though I don't ask those questions anymore, no person or thing can ever fill what God is only suited for. No matter how much in love you are or how dedicated to your job, or how excited you are about the future, God is ultimately the only one thing you will find true and pure life in. You will find that even in your most joyful times, if your life isn't centered on Christ, you won't feel it like God wants you to. Let's keep Him in the center, and in doing so experience true joy!!

Isaiah 55:12 "You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."