Sunday, April 19, 2009

JOY For Our Journey/In Unexpected Places


A joyful Monday to all of my sweeties out there!!


I feel like I have so much to share with you that I
am just going to burst!! So much going on, so many
different feelings, but this is about JOY...will you
indulge me as I share some personal joy?


Hopefully, you, too, will find JOY in some rather
unexpected places.


I have been really missing my Mom lately. It kind
of comes and goes, but it is still hard for me
to grasp that she is gone.
I don't know if it will ever really sink in.
It hurts a lot sometimes, even after almost 5 years.

SO WHERE IS THE JOY IN THAT, BECKY?

I was blessed to have an amazing, loving Mom,
friend, and cheerleader. She was a true inspiration
and I couldn't have asked for a better Mom!!

I FIND GREAT JOY IN THAT!!

My sister-in law's memorial service was gut-wrenching,
and so totally senseless. Such a tragic loss.

AGAIN, WHERE IS THE JOY IN THAT?

I am so blessed to be part of such a loving, supportive family.
All of my siblings were in attendance along with
extended family.

As each family member arrived the sense of my
brother's assurance that he would be ok was elevated,
and the love and support was so strong that I think
every person in the room could not only see it,
but feel it, too!!

A family functioning as God would have them function in
difficult circumstances....


WONDERFUL JOY!!!

My Mom's brother, Bud, Uncle Bud has always been
my favorite uncle. His wife Janice, was my favorite
aunt.

Years ago they went through a painful divorce, and each
got remarried. I never got to see Aunt Janice anymore.
There was this emptiness in my heart without her there.

Well, a couple of months ago, her husband passed away.
And guess what?

She came to the memorial service!! I got to hug
her a bunch of times, and tell her how much I had
missed her, how glad I was to see her, and she said
she had missed us all very much, too!!

My favorite cousins came, too (her daughters) and I am
going to begin to see one of them regularly as well as
my Uncle Bud. He is the best!!

JOY!! JOY!! JOY!!


So, sweeties, start looking around, even in the seemingly
dark places, and you may be surprised to find some

JOY

where you would least expect it!!

Thank you all again for your kind thoughts
and prayers. You are truly a blessing to me!!

I'll be posting an update tomorrow.

Joy and hugs,
Becky



21 comments:

  1. Hi Dear Sweet Becky,
    I am up late to night not being able to sleep, and decided to see if you had by chance posted, I am so thankful you are back home safely. I am also thankful to read this post which is truly filled with Joy and I am sensing wonderful peace in your words.
    God is so good to us all, He is always present through each and every trial and disappointment!! Your love for your mother is so touching to me, and if I could take the emptiness and pain from the loss that you feel away I would, as you have become so special to me. I will continue to lift you and your family up in prayer.
    Love,
    Sue

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  2. Dear Becky,
    My prayers are with you , your brother and your family at this sad time. The joy you are experiencing and sharing is so wonderful. It is the joy that only God can bring when we rely on Him each day and especially during times such as these. Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us all. To witness how you are finding pure joy even in the dark is awe inspiring and contagious!

    Blessings & Many Thanks,
    Carrie

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  3. Sad to hear about your loss, but I agree with your attitude, sure when you lose someone you love, you will miss him/her deeply and painfully, but always be grateful you had the chance to be part of their lives, to love them and be loved in return.

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  4. Thank you for this encouraging post Becky. I'm so glad for you, and for those of us who are reading your post that you can have such a wonderful outlook during such a difficult time.

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  5. I love your post! This is exactly how God wants us to be! Joy in the midst of hard times is one reason why He came. I can relate to missing your mom, it's hitting me also with my dad. But like you, I'm finding JOY in the years I had with my dad and JOY in knowing that I will see him one day soon! What a beautiful testamint to your walk with the Lord to hear of the JOY you are finding admist your struggles!! Hope your day is good and the Lord comforts you through these hard days...Thanks for brightening my morning!!!

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  6. Thank you so much for sharing your joy even in the midst of the storms that blew in..((hugs))

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  7. Glad to hear you had a safe trip and that even though the trip was for the most dreaded circumstances, you were able to have some happiness with seeing loved ones. :)

    Have a lovely day Becky!
    xxxxxx

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  8. Your JOY was radiating on my screen here...wonderful....
    Great uplifting post
    deby

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  9. i'm glad you were able to see her. that was special.

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  10. Such a wonderful post. In the dark times joy can shine the brightest. I am so glad that you were able to see so many loved ones at the funeral and your brother was comforted. This post really tied in well with our pastors message at church yesterday! Thank you so much for your love and encouragement. Your friend, Elena

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  11. YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT DEAR FRIEND! WE HAVE TO LOOK FOR THE JOY!!! AND IT SURROUNDS ALL OF US!!!
    I HEARD A MESSAGE SAT. NIGHT ABOUT MOUNTAINS AND VALLEYS. THE PREACHER SAID THAT EVEN IN VALLEYS, THERE IS JOY IF WE LOOK FOR IT. HE SAID IT'S ACCORDING TO 'WHAT' WE LOOK AT IN THE VALLEY OF LIFE. HE'S RIGHT. LOVE-LOVE-LOVE YOUR POST. AS FOR YOUR MOM, YOU WERE BLESSED TO HAVE A PRECIOUS AND GOOD MOTHER. I FEEL SO BAD THAT YOU DON'T HAVE HER ANYMORE, BUT ALOT OF CHILDREN WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A GOOD MOTHER JUST FOR A SHORT TIME, SO YOU'RE RIGHT, THAT IS A JOY!!!
    AND DEAR FRIEND, YOU ARE SUCH A BRIGHT SPOT IN MY LIFE. HAVE A BLESSED DAY. I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY THIS WEEKEND!
    GOD IS SO GOOD.

    LOVE,
    LIESA

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  12. God is so good to give us joy even while we're in pain. Truly great!

    I know the funeral had to be hard, and so glad that your brother was able to receive so much support.

    I hope that your renewed relationship with your aunt and cousins will blossom and be a wonderful blessing to you:)

    Thanks for this post, Becky!

    Hugs,
    Linda

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  13. Becky:

    My mom has been gone for about five years too and I still go to pick up the phone and call her. I am so glad that you found joy in the midst of sorrow. Our God is so gracious.

    Roberta Anne = The Raggedy Girl

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  14. My dearest Becky, you have such a way of bringing joy to people all around you it, and through your blog especially. You never cease to amaze me with your unselfish view of the world, and how you are constantly trying to see the good and the positive in situations - your faith and your beautiful spirit are inspirational. May you continue to always look for that joy, and to feel the joy you bring to others coming right back to you, Fiona x x

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  15. Dear Becky...you have such a wonderful outlook. It is a wonderful thing when a family can put thier differences aside and be there for each other when it matters most. I am so happy for you to be able to reconnect with your Aunt and Cousins.
    Family is everything, isn't it...

    Blessings,
    Susie

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  16. Love your buoyant, bright attitude you have in spite of the curves that life would throw at you. It's a wonderful inspiration. :) You did put a smile on my face today. Thanks.

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  17. love you, becky! i know we don't always understand why certain things happen. i know i don't. but i do always know that God has a plan for my life..a plan and a hope... and i hang onto that. sounds like you're doing the same thing :O). i hope your week is awesome! alice

    p.s. my mother-in-law died last week and i didn't even mention it to any of my blog friends. just reading your post today, made everything better. thanks.

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  18. This is a very good post; like looking for the silver lining, you know? Sometimes, it does take a death to reconnect with people. Now that I'm older I can appreciate it so much more.

    Within the last couple of years, I've had the privilege and blessing to either reconnect with or meet long lost cousins due to others in the family passing away. Through sad events, I've been brought together with these people and enjoy keeping in touch and sharing family memories and information.

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  19. I know I'll forget to say this but I loved this post! I fought tears reading about your mom-for I feel the same way about my older sister who has been with Jesus for almost 4 years. She was my defender and encourager. I miss her so much. Glad to hear of God's provision of peace in the midst of tragedy and also the joy He gave in the valleys. Love you dear one.

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  20. Becky, dear --- I am so glad you have found JOY in sorrow. I have been thinking of you and praying for you. My mother passed away nearly 5 years ago as well --- it will be five in July. I understand your sense of loss. Sometimes the pain is so sharp and other times it's a dull pain. But there is JOY in all things and we will see our mother's again some day.

    Have a blessed week!
    LaTeaDah

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  21. Oh, I'm so glad you found joy in the midst of this sorrow!! Joy comes in the most unexpected places - when we rely on God for true joy!! Blessings to you and your family!

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Thank you so much for taking the time to share some JOY!
You're a blessing to me!