Two Surprising Ways to Increase Your Joy

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It was my first Mother’s Day. I had high expectations. While I hate being the center of attention, this was my day. The day that I longed for but thought I would never see. Hot tears poured down my face because we did nothing. Instead of being celebrated and loved, I felt invisible and disappointed. {My poor husband. We did end up going to Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens, which was beautiful, after my meltdown.}

 

 

High Expectations

I have learned that the best way to make it through special occasions such as my birthday, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, and pretty much every other occasion, is to lower my expectations. Basically I’ve come to expect nothing.

It’s easier that way.

Birthdays, Valentine’s Days, Mother’s Days, have all come and gone leaving me with a sense of loneliness. I’ve cried many tears while listening to family call and leave voicemail messages because I knew I couldn’t make it through a phone call without them asking what was wrong.

This past birthday was different.

The Desire of Every Heart

In a Facebook group that is very dear to my heart, I asked for prayer the day before my birthday. I asked that they would pray for my heart and that my expectations would be low. Birthdays are especially hard.

And they did.

But they went beyond that.

Yes, I received Facebook messages. I also received texts throughout the day. The icing on the cake was the Edible Arrangements they sent. I got misty eyed at each text, but I cried explaining to my children that this was from my friends I met in Texas.

This year though they were happy tears.

There are two things that we all want.

Every single person on this planet desires these two things.

To be known and to be loved.

We may not want to be the center of attention, but we want to know that we aren’t forgotten. We may have pushed everyone in our lives away because of a past hurt or situation, but we want to know we are loved.

Even if we don’t realize it, those are our desires.

Why does a baby want to be held when they cry before they calm down? Because they want to feel loved and known.

Why are there times when my children are extra defiant and don’t listen? Because they want me to show them that they are known and loved.

What We All Want in Life

There was a post on Facebook recently that stuck with me after my revelation on my birthday.

It’s a beautiful story and picture. That’s what we all want.

We all want to be seen and loved. To know that we aren’t invisible and that people care.

I can be a little naive at times, but hear me out. I know that mean people exist. I know people say cruel things. I also know that if every single person on earth turns against you, you will still be known and loved.

Sound impossible?

It’s not.

Even if the whole world turns against you, God is for you. He loves you so much He sent his Son, Jesus to die a horrible death on the cross. He sacrificed His Son for you.

Let me repeat that because I think we hear it so much, it has lost the true meaning.

God. Sacrificed. His. Son. For. YOU.

YOU.

Do you have children? Do you love anyone so much that you would sacrifice your first born child for them?

Yeah, me either.

But God.

Dear one, YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE SEEN. HE KNOWS YOU. HE LOVES YOU.

People fail us, but God is faithful.

If you feel alone and discouraged, call to Him. He’s right there with you. He won’t leave you or forsake you.

I don’t know what you’re going through right now. I’m not going to pretend to know. But He does.

GOD KNOWS.

If you remember nothing from this post, remember this:

YOU ARE SEEN. YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE KNOWN.

Let’s commit to do something out of the ordinary for someone unsuspecting. Pass out balloons. Give a stranger a bouquet of flowers. Pay for someone’s order behind you in the drive-thru. Send a friend a Starbucks gift card via text and tell them to grab a coffee on you.

Not only will it brighten your day and increase your joy, but you’ll show others that they are seen and loved too.

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