Life is stressful and hard for everyone. It is easy to get overwhelmed and caught up in what didn’t get done or what we forgot to do. Finding joy in the daily grind takes focused effort and great resolve. Children cry and drinks gets spilt, you step on a block while pacing the floor with a screaming newborn for the third hour straight (not that this has happened to me recently), and how does one find joy in that? There is a difference between having true joy and feeling “happy”. Happiness is just a feeling and comes and goes often effected by our circumstances. But joy is something much deeper. Joy comes from knowing that this life is temporary and that we are not in control. Joy is found in truly trusting God with every aspect of your life. But there are ways that we can help to maintain this focus and thus help keep our eyes focused on finding joy in the daily grind.
I love music and I use it often to help change my focus. If I find my thoughts turning to worry or frustration praise and worship music can help me to turn my heart back to the joy of my salvation. In the midst of the chaos of homeschooling and homemaking I can feel my heart begin to see the blessings in the chaos and the mess. My home is full and noisy and that is truly a blessing.
I also find that if I maintain a slower pace in life and do not give in to idleness joy is much easier to find. If we get busy running here and there or if I don’t use my hours wisely and leave things until the last minute stress creeps in. I find my voice rising and the children frustrating me as they don’t do things as fast as I would like them to. But, if I stay organized and responsible with the job that God has given me joy comes naturally.
Like I said earlier, joy doesn’t mean that I never cry or that I never have a bad day. But deep in my heart there is peace and there is joy. Even in the daily grind of teaching math, wiping noses, washing dishes and sweeping up crumbs my heart is at peace. I know that I am loved and that my Heavenly Father is in control. With faith in Him you too can have joy even in the daily grind.
Other posts in this series –
Homeschooling with Little Ones Around
Fitting It All In
Daily Schedule
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