Joy goes beyond circumstances

I shared this on Instagram last night and then 40 minutes later Kate Motaung announced this week’s Five Minute Friday prompt was JOY.

So I knew I needed to write. Five minutes, just write. On your mark, get set, go …

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The kids and I were looking forward to a Wednesday afternoon and evening at home. I happily had my pajamas on by 2:30 p.m.

And then my 14-month-old Rachel face planted into the corner of a piece of furniture. I heard the cry from around the corner and knew she was hurt. I saw blood, realized she knocked a tooth loose, and hurt her gums.

I didn’t know what to do so I called our pediatrician and ended up going to see my sweet relative who works there. Then she called her husband who is a dentist.

They took care of us, even those the prognosis was wait and see if the tooth tightens back up. I’m not good at waiting.

Rachel was restless that night. I’m sure her mouth was sore. We also went cold turkey on the bedtime bottle because I worried the bottle was further loosen the tooth.

But she woke up smiling.

I was more overwhelmed than she was. I followed her around yesterday, hoping and wishing and praying she didn’t fall on her face again. Y’all, that alone was stressful. I’m not the mom who usually worries about her kids hurting themselves. But Thursday the fear and anxiousness overwhelmed me.

And then I felt guilty for worrying about something whose worse-case scenario isn’t nearly as bad as circumstances other families face. It took me most of the day to shake all the emotions.

When Rachel decided to use two presents as a chair while I was cooking dinner, I stopped and snapped pictures because I wanted to capture her joy. I wanted the joy she is to trump all my temporary emotions. Joy lasts.

Her joy radiates regardless of the circumstances and continually reminds me that God is for us.

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I’m linking up with Kate Motaung for Five Minute Friday. You’re welcome to join us. Set a timer for five minutes and just write. Then link up with this fun crew.