When our children are babies, there are countless moments of pure joy, both within ourselves and in them as they grow and discover all the world has to offer. When our son was born, while the daily struggle of parenthood and adjusting to our new reality was hard at times, it was surpassed by these constant moments of pure joy that start with little milestones like their first smile, words or steps. We may have some of these captured on camera but many of them hold a place in our hearts that will never go away.
As our children get older and start to face greater obstacles in life, these moments of pure joy become less frequent but even more meaningful and precious. By the time we reach adulthood, we can so easily get caught up in the trap and routine of daily life and really miss out on true joy. The bible says in many places that pure joy is so much greater than temporary happiness. To me, buying and collecting things on this earth brings temporary happiness and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s okay to enjoy life and be silly and carefree every once in a while but it is in the true moments of joy that we find the ultimate peace and happiness and memories that become a part of us.
As we make our way through the teenage years, it’s an interesting time. With so many emotional and physical changes combined with the insane pressure to succeed and be the best, these kids walk through each day with so many thoughts and challenges that they face. Ultimately, as adults, we can look back at our teenage years and recall those same challenges but know that we made it through even stronger in most cases. But when we think back, how many moments of pure joy did we have? Did we stop to collect those and carry them with us?
On our family vacation this summer, my kids had the chance to swim with dolphins and I knew that it would be a cool experience but I had no idea how much joy it would ultimately bring. Just watching their faces and then seeing the joy captured in the photos was truly a memory I knew I would never forget. Sometimes we need to just step outside of our comfort zone, put the stress of daily life aside for a moment and just live and experience something special and unique. It just may bring you back to that place as a child when everything was so pure and magical.
How do you plan to find these moments of true joy in your life? Whether it’s a vacation or something as simple as disconnecting and spending time with family, I urge you to try to find these moments and embed them in your heart. When times are tough, these are the memories you will rely on to get you through to happier times. As my kids get older, I plan to treasure and truly hold on to these moments. They are gifts from God that I know will last much longer than the things of this earth.