This was on my mind
last week
. I mean,
last month it was on my mind last week.
WINK WINK.
WINK WINK.
First let me tell you why.
I woke up about 3 days ago with a swollen eye.
Due to a stye or pimple or something. Although the intensity of pain has subsided,
~and trust me it was tear worthy~
my eyelid has gotten larger(?) since then. If that makes sense.
I have one giant enormous looking lazy eye.
I look like Quasimodo from Disneys Hunchback of Notre Dame.
I wish I was kidding.
(Does anyone remember me posting a Quasimodo pic on Instagram?)
(Does anyone remember me posting a Quasimodo pic on Instagram?)
Yes, I did actually take a picture of him me.
Actually I took like 12 of them, because I was thinking this morning as I plopped
myself in front of the mirror, that perhaps one day I would be brave enough
to post one on facebook or my blog, just to use, for I don't know... something.
Sorry girls. Today is not that day. If you want to see a very close replica of what I
actually look like while typing this, just google it. Quasimodo.
As a matter of fact, I can hardly see right now. My vision is blurred.
Impaired. Whatevs. The whole situation ain't cute.
Stay with me here, I have a point.
I plopped myself in front of the mirror this morning, hoping to make myself
feel better by putting makeup on the one normal & functional eye.
(Which by the way didn't work)
However what did work, was to laugh at myself.
I seriously just sat down in front of a full length mirror and kept laughing
at how utterly ridiculous I looked. And yes, I was alone.
And this is what popped in my head at that moment.
This. Below.
Um, ok the verse...not the picture...
the picture is just for your entertainment.
the picture is just for your entertainment.
But, how completely true is this? How full of wisdom is our God?
Even in things like this! Laughter! Joy! A Happy Heart!
He knows whats up!
Laughter is the best, isn't it! When you are with your friends and you are on the floor,
laughing so hard at something completely lame...
but it is oh, so much fun!
I was tickling my daughter earlier today in bed and she kept asking for more
and more and more... and I always think to myself, how is it that these kids
want me to keep tickling them over and over? Being tickled is like torture for me!
But the laughter, oh that laughter~ when you laugh so hard your stomach hurts,
is like medicine. It heals the soul. Sometimes you really just need it.
Sometimes when you are on the brink of tears, and you happen to laugh at something,
you actually start to cry. That proves you need it!
And sometimes, it's a decision we have to make. It really is.
Those moments where life throws an unexpected pimple curve ball right at your eyeball.
Or when your three kids are all asking you for 17 things all at one time.
Or maybe something more serious is going on in your life, a family trial,
a tragedy, a loss, a sickness, whatever it may be~
that is the time when you must use faith and let the joy of the Lord be your strength.
It's odd how the times in life when you have NO strength, sometimes you don't really want joy
neither. Because I think a part of us likes to sulk and feel sorry for ourselves.
But that is when God tells us to let his JOY be our strength. ~Nehemiah 8:10
We need that to just do life. Right? It energizes us!
We have to CHOOSE to LET his JOY strengthen us.
Sit in front of the mirror. Smile. Make dumb faces at yourself.
Stretch your lips, or your eyelids or something.
Trust me, YOU WILL START LAUGHING, because you're alone.
And it's so silly that you are doing this!
But do it! If you are having a day where you are anxious, stressed, worried,
hurt, sad, bored, lonely..whatever.
Sit down in front of mirror, say "The Joy of the Lord is my strength"
and just laugh, girl. Make it happen. You will feel so much better.
And the best part is you will have this secret smile that you will
carry with you all day long.
It's between you and God, how silly you were.
How much you laughed at absolutely nothing. And how much good it did you.
I need life to be fun. We all do!
11 comments:
I love this!! Totally something I need to hear often! Glad your eye is all better by now!!
Sjdmiller.blogspot.com
haha! Whether it was a month ago or a year ago, it's still a beautiful post! :)
I needed this today :) Love you Julie!!
LOVE THIS AND YOUR BIG SMILE!! Such a great post and a great reminder ;)
love how you say - between you and God. like an inside joke with our Father. that's super sweet.
Hahaha! This still makes me laugh a little bit! :):) I love you my friend!
Awesome post as always Julie! I am gonna write that down. The Joy of the Lord is My Stregth. How many times did we hear that growingup? How did it disappear from my memory until now?
Love this reminder!! And glad your eye is all better now :) XOXOXO
Kristine from The Foley Fam {unedited} Blog
your pictures are always so fun - and such a great reminder about joy! I am so happy to call you friend =)
this was so great to hear and be reminded of!! you are simply beautiful! Found you through the getting to know you hop!
Helene in Between
I loved reading this! It is such a good reminder to have joy even when life isn't perfect.
I'd love it if you shared this on my new I am a storyteller link up! I think it would be fun if more read this. http://pencilleddaydream.com/2012/11/14/i-am-a-storyteller-link-up/
-ashley
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