Living Inspired.

"Joy Is Found Here"

Lately, I have been feeling greatly overwhelmed with this ugly little thing called stress. My mind is constantly racing with all the various things that have to be accomplished in my life. Here's how the conversation in my head goes, "Ahhh. I have SO much to do and so little time. Twenty-four hours in a day just isn't enough (insert grumble). I need to find a job as soon as possible! Wait. No one is going to hire me through the internet. I am dumb! What if there's one employer who thinks online applicants are cool? Cool? Really Raegan, are you in the 4th grade again? Where was I..oh ya. Job. How am I going to be able to get to work if I don't have a car? Guess I'll be biking to work. Talk about an intense work-out. Go me. Eat your heart out, Billy Blanks. Wait Raegan, he's an exercise guru. He could beat you in thumb wrestling. I lose. Thumb wrestling...what a heated game in elementary school. School. College. Where am I going to college? Do I need to cancel my enrollment anywhere? Maybe I should settle for a community school. Oh the irony of how I used to make fun of community colleges in high school. Jokes on me now. Not winning (insert Charlie Sheen voice)!" I may or may not have added a few things in there just for chuckles, but you get the gist of it. I can feel my blood pressure rising and stomach ulcers forming...and my knees ache when there's bad weather. Not like you needed to know that or anything. As you see, most of this has NOTHING to do with my current life. None of these "problems" include Ukraine. 
The past few days have been filled with sunny weather, good friends, and lots of laughter. As summer approaches, the days seem to draw out. One of my favorite things are those cool summer evenings where there's crickets chirping, a soft breeze, a sherbet sunset, and the sweet smell of earth. On Sunday, I laid out on a blanket and attempted to read Persuasion by Jane Austen. #epicfail (So, if you know me, you know I'm not a big fan of Twitter. Thought I would throw that little nugget in for those that like it. No need to thank me.) By the third page, I was tickling the little girls. The sound of their laughter was sweet and soothing. A few nights ago, some of the kids and I were snuggling on the couch. Yula had her little arm around my stomach and was pulling herself as close as she could to my side. Jokingly, I picked up her arm and said, "What do you want?" She looked at me with her big brown eyes and said, "I love you." 
Every burden on my heart--the stress, the anxiety, the fears, the uncertainties--melted away. I could hear God saying, "This is where joy is found; in these moments that I have given you. You run to so many worthless things to find peace in the midst of your 'despair'. I have given you the infectious laughter, the warm touches, and the captivating smiles of these children. There may be chaos in your heart, in your family, in your relationships, and even in your world. However, you will see the perfection of My Peace through their eyes."