Happy, Does Anyone Know It

I think my heart longs for moms to find joy in the midst of parenting and marriage! I long to share with women that YOU can be happy raising children. I talk to so many moms that feel lost in being a mom. Its harder than we thought because we thought these little people would bring us joy (and they do in some ways). But they can't sustain our joy. Neither can our husbands. Nor can we do that for them!

I don't judge the struggling mom trying to find her balance, I hurt for them. Because I remember feeling that way once. You long for something more, to mean something, accomplish something To feel value that is more worthy than sitting in spit up, changing another diaper, or managing another tantrum. To accomplish more than another load of laundry, fixing and cleaning another meal, or scrubbing yet another bathroom.

Why do we so quickly discount what we do?

I think it is a lie of satan!

I think He desires to rob us of our joy so that we become ineffective in loving our husbands, raising our children, and spreading the gospel.

If we are miserable as a mom, then how does that help our husbands? Whether you believe it or not it will bleed over into how you feel as a wife. I think the two are intertwined! If my home is to be a place of peace, nurturing, and love, but all I share is misery, sorrow, and unhappiness, I can't possible create an atmosphere of peace. You know that dream we all have as young women to marry the man of our dreams and make a house a home.

I think we marry the man of our dreams but then we lose sight of our purpose as a helpmate and become a drainmate. We drain the life right out of our men. He is not why I am not happy! I create my happiness by keeping my eyes on the Father! We don't lose our joy...we just forget to raise our eyes to the one that can bring that Joy.

Then we have these beautiful children that won't do what we say, create messes at the most awful times, and who zap every last ounce of energy we have. How will they every want to know our Heavenly Father if that means no joy? My life will either draw them in or keep them away! I want my children to know the HOPE I have in Him! I want them to long for the Father! I want them to know Him so their JOY is not dependent upon their circumstances but that JOY can come on a battle field, in the hospital, suffering from RA, or sorting another load of laundry!

I'm not saying our lives don't have pain, suffering, or even mundane task. I am saying that even though there may be tears from pain, the pain doesn't consume me. I am saying that even though you may suffer, God is bigger than the problem. I am saying that the mundane task, do have purpose and joy can be accomplished.

Next time you feel the overwhelming burden of feeling the weight of marriage, motherhood, or the home. Just begin singing, "If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands. If you're happy and you know it, then your life will surely show it, If you're happy and you know it clap your hands!"

Life will throw me off more times than I care to admit. I quit trying to keep it from happening and decided how to learn how to recognize I am off balance. Every time I find an issue I am dealing with I try to create a picture in my mind how to gain my perspective back. I challenge you the next time you feel the weight of home. Clap your hands!