But what happens when you are going through the most difficult trial and test of your life? What happens when year after year you labor to care for the one you love, and the joy seems to be fleeting or maybe even, dare I say it, gone? How can we watch the one we love change, grow weaker, suffer and hurt and still feel JOY?
Dear Hubby and I discussed joy this morning....wondering what does it look like? Is it a constant PRAISE JESUS moment? Is it smiles, rainbows and hearts?
Our conclusion is perhaps joy in the midst of suffering is more like this: a quiet hope and peace.
When caring for someone with chronic illness, perhaps joy comes not as a smile, laugh or happiness. Perhaps it comes as a prayer.
Lord Jesus, today, there isn't much to smile about. I am hurting. My loved one is suffering. But this I know, you are here. Things may not change, they may worsen. But you are steadfast and faithful. My hope is in YOU. I know that you hold my heart and hand. I remember that my eternal security rests in YOU. I lie here, at your breast, as John did and say with Simon Peter, "Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life."
1 comment:
Amen! I am so tired of people saying that I should just smile because I need to be joyful. I'm sorry but I can have joy and not necessarily smile at the same time. How many times have we heard that joy and happiness aren't the same thing? And I don't think smiling is going to MAKE me joyful no matter how often well meaning people say it. My heart has to be right first and until then any smile on my face will be meaningless and plastic.
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