Posts Tagged ‘blessings’

My Version of Joy

Posted: November 4, 2019 in Inspirational
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I have started many blogs on the topic of joy but I’ve never really been able to get very far. You see; in my mind, joy for me was not something I was completely sure about. Joy was always this distant point on the horizon that always eluded me. Joy was like that water mirage in the desert…the one that looks clear until you get close and then it just disappears. That was my version of joy…or at least that is what it seemed.

I also thought joy was a by-product of my circumstances, or in other words, if I’m at Disneyland, surrounded by happy people, then I should be full of joy, right? 

Wrong.

I do think it’s easy to look at the word joy and not really understand it. And for guys this especially true because we tend to look at everything through our identity prism i.e., Achievement, Conquests, etc. WHY? Because that is what the world thinks that joy is.

In other words, the world’s version of joy actually means, what YOU have or achieved, things like money, cars, or just, lots of “stuff”. So that means if you don’t have those things, then you don’t have joy?…is that a fair statement? 

Does “stuff” equal real joy?

Definition according to Webster:

a: joy is the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires: delight

Actually, this definition does NOT surprise me at all because it just confirms what we just spoke about. In the eyes of the world, Joy equals well-being, success, and good fortune.

Here is why I wrote this particular blog on this topic;  recently, as I was struggling with a particularly difficult week, God punched me in the face with something that I had not seen before. It was like He pulled the curtain back and let me look beyond what my eyes could see. What I saw, gave me understanding, and most of all, some joy “perspective”.

I felt as if He asked me, “what are the blessings that I have given you?” which really caused me to think. What I saw beyond that curtain was simply my family. My wife, who still loves me after almost 35 years, my sons, my daughter-in-law, and a new grandson. Honestly, I didn’t see any “stuff” like cars or vacations or anything like that. For me, that was the difference. 

You see, I am the guy that always gets lost when trying to focus on the things that I thought would bring me joy…and that was God’s point…THINGS DON’T BRING US JOY, HE DOES.

By focusing on the things of Him, He showed me that by looking at MY LIFES BLESSINGS, it caused me to see them for what they truly are…my version of joy.

So look at it this way guys…

Throughout the chaos and the mayhem of any given day, when your focus on the day and the outcome of that day is bringing you down…I encourage you to stare into that mist and look to find your own blessings… Because what I found is that by focusing on those, suddenly the day doesn’t seem so bad. 

So you knew after reading this blog that I had to ask this question…

What is your version of joy?

Until next time guys-

A little man’s explanation of God…

Posted: May 19, 2013 in Father, Just for Fun
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I happened upon this article recently and it brought a smile to my face because I am one of those Dad’s who was blessed with boys. Now, please don’t get me wrong, I also was blessed with a girl for a time and she was truly a joy in my life but today…this post is about little men. If you happen to be blessed with one, two or more, then you will understand this next statement…

It’s NEVER boring with a little guy around…

In fact, sometimes life can kind of be downright chaotic with little guys around…however, I don’t know about you, I wouldn’t have it any other way…But I digress…

The article I found are from a sunday school classroom of little guys explaining who they think God is and why they believe in Him…completely from their “little man”vantage point.

I hope you like it…

A LITTLE MAN’S EXPLANATION OF GOD:

 

 

‘One of God’s main jobs is making people. He makes them to replace the ones that die, so there will be enough people to take care of things on earth. He doesn’t make grownups, just babies. I think because they are smaller and easier to make. That way he doesn’t have to take up his valuable time teaching them to talk and walk. He can just leave that to mothers and fathers.’

 

‘God’s second most important job is listening to prayers. An awful lot of this goes on, since some people, like preachers and things, pray at times beside bedtime. God doesn’t have time to listen to the radio or TV because of this. Because he hears everything, there must be a terrible lot of noise in his ears, unless he has thought of a way to turn it off.’

 

‘God sees everything and hears everything and is everywhere which keeps Him pretty busy. So you shouldn’t go wasting his time by going over your mom and dad’s head asking for something they said you couldn’t have.’

 

‘Atheists are people who don’t believe in God. I don’t think there are any in San Diego. At least there aren’t any who come to our church.’

 

‘ Jesus is God’s Son. He used to do all the hard work, like walking on water and performing miracles and trying to teach the people who didn’t want to learn about God. They finally got tired of him preaching to them and they crucified him. But he was good and kind, like his father, and he told his father that they didn’t know what they were doing and to forgive them and God said O.K.’

 

‘His dad (God) appreciated everything that he had done and all his hard work on earth so he told him he didn’t have to go out on the road anymore. He could stay in heaven. So he did. And now he helps his dad out by listening to prayers and seeing things which are important for God to take care of and which ones he can take care of himself without having to bother God. Like a secretary, only more important.’

 

‘You can pray anytime you want and they are sure to help you because they got it worked out so one of them is on duty all the time.’

 

‘You should always go to church on Sunday because it makes God happy, and if there’s anybody you want to make happy, it’s God!

 

Don’t skip church to do something you think will be more fun like going to the beach. This is wrong. And besides the sun doesn’t come out at the beach until noon anyway.’

 

‘If you don’t believe in God, besides being an atheist, you will be very lonely, because your parents can’t go everywhere with you, like to camp, but God can. It is good to know He’s around you when you’re scared, in the dark or when you can’t swim and you get thrown into real deep water by big kids.’

 

‘But…you shouldn’t just always think of what God can do for you. I figure God put me here and he can take me back anytime he pleases.

 

And…that’s why I believe in God.’

 

 

Until next time guys…

The Real Definition of Wealth…

Posted: January 1, 2012 in Father, Husband, Inspirational
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Over the last few years, the holidays have caused me to reflect back and look at my own life and count my many blessings. I have been more aware of “life’s moments” since the loss of my daughter a few years back. Recently, I spent time  with a man who I don’t see very often because of distance and as I call it, his “self estrangement” from his family because of his desire to be alone and pursue his own desires. Now wait just a minute…what man wouldn’t want to pursue his own passions? We are guys and passions i.e. our hobbies, are what we do, am I right? My friend’s “problem” is that he isn’t alone. He moved in with a woman a few years back and then proceeded to have a beautiful little baby with her. Now you will notice I said “problem” earlier when referring to his new family and is the reason I write this blog post. His complaints about his personal situation caused me to realize how wealthy he is RIGHT NOW, and he doesn’t see it.

Our conversation began about creativity because he is a talented artist, sculptor and more. He is one of those people who see art in everything and when he puts his mind to a project, I have been stunned to see his results. Since I’ve known him, I have come to see him as a creative person with a free spirit. Unfortunately as he puts it, he hasn’t “created” any new “pieces of art” in a long time due to his new-found responsibilities with his girl friend and new child. In my opinion, most new dads find a way around these home responsibilities if they truly want to do whatever their passion is, HE…has chosen to become bitter towards his family. THEY are the reason he cannot pursue what he wants to do and he sees his girl friend and child as obstacles in life’s journey. As I listened to him explain the “journey” he is navigating and why he never has the time to pursue his creativity, I couldn’t help commenting on how much of an inspiration his young daughter must be to him? Here is this little gleam of sunshine, innocence, and just pure beauty and yet he does not see her that way. From the outside looking in, I ask What is standing in his way and blocking him from seeing what seems so clear and obvious to me? What is robbing him of the joy of being a father?

In this life, what could be more important than your wife and child? Again, I recognize I have this opinion because my perspective is different from most men because when you lose a child it changes you…forever. I’m sure you have heard the expression, “walk a mile in another mans shoes?” In my conversation with him, I tried to convey what he is missing by dragging all this bitterness around. He has a beautiful little girl right there in front of him and it doesn’t phase him. Myself, a dad who lost his only daughter, can’t get through to him and emphasize his incredible blessing! He is a grown man who is unwilling to listen to my words about being unbelievably blessed with wealth by heavenly standards…I pray that he will discover that knowledge soon…before she is gone from his life.

Here is my question to you? Do you look at your own family and understand what I mean by true wealth? I think it is pretty clear I am not referring to your bank account. I am speaking to what I believe is really important in our lives. True wealth here on Earth is not measured in dollars and cents. Now I absolutely agree that We, (all of us guys), have our hobbies and personal pursuits that are just ours and yes, I do struggle with my own “time” issue. Trying to balance our personal life with work and family isn’t easy and there are a whole lots of books written on that subject to back me up. I am also NOT inferring I have it all together because I do not…But what I DO understand is that I am wealthy beyond measure… just like I know you are as well.

Guys, I encourage you to take a look at your family through different eyes, God’s eyes. Look at them for what they truly are…your legacy…and your true wealth…

Until next time…