Throw Caution to the Wind. CHOOSE JOY.
My friend, Jasmine, and I threw caution to the wind and went for a walk despite the sky threatening a storm.
About halfway through our walk, on the far side of town, the sky cracked and drops drained down. Fortunately we found cover under an old oak tree. We remained dry.
The rain stopped and our walk continued.
We met some friends and visited until the sky turned night. Leaving, the rain started again. It was just some drops, and we were only a few blocks from our cars.
“Don’t you have an umbrella?”
“Where are your umbrellas?”
“Didn’t you bring an umbrella?”
“Where are your umbrellas?”
“Didn’t you bring an umbrella?”
Our three friends were clearly more put together than we were. Jas and I looked at each other and shrugged. “We can walk between the drops,” I joked.
We declined their offers to borrow umbrellas or catch a ride to our cars. The rain turned from drops to pelts to buckets.
Jas and I giggled and ran and wiped the water from our faces. The sky boomed. The rain unleashed, and we were drenched.
We laughed more and jumped into our cars.
Water dripped from the brim of my hat. My feet squished in my shoes. My hands were impossible to dry, making the steering wheel slick.
I started my car and giggled more.
Sometimes we go to great efforts to avoid the storms. Jas and I stood under the oak tree, and the storm passed. We remained dry and unchanged.
Yet, when we kept going despite the storm, good things happened. Jas and I chose joy in the middle of the rain. We’re closer friends from weathering the storm.
Storms will come. Let’s go through them and become better people despite the grey and rain around us. Trust me, this is the choice I’m making right now — I’m weathering the storm by choosing joy. I hope you’ll leave a comment and let me know that you’re choosing joy too!
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So true! We can spend so much time avoiding the storm, we miss out on experiencing life and the joy that comes from that! God's joy is our strength. Joy is our strength.
Love this Ruth. There are always reasons to choose joy. I don't know if you have heard the background of St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa) feeling spiritual dryness for the last decades of her life but still choosing to show joy and love on the outside. That is an inspiration for me when thinking about the concept you are writing about. Thanks for sharing your encouragement.
It's always about the joy! The joy of the Lord gives us strength. You reminding us about joy helps us refocus and look for it among the storms. Thank you!!! And come see us! Or maybe we can meet halfway and do tea and/or coffee.
Whatever troubles are with you, I applaud you for choosing joy. It's a steep climb to the only place to be. A place of joy. Happy travels.
I love standing in the rain. It's refreshing once you get over the weird feeling of wet clothes! I'm glad you are choosing joy. You have lots of friends to weather the storm with you! xoxo
Storms do make us better people, Ruth – especially if joy is somehow always the anchor.
You're awesome. That's all.
I love that you chose joy. Thanks for reminding me to do the same.
I tell my students 'Your life is a story, filled with many chapters. Every experience you have in your life adds a new chapter to your life story. The older we get, the more experiences we have and the more interesting our story becomes. Not all chapters are happy – some may be exciting, some sad, some disappointing, some embarrassing and some are very difficult chapters. But each chapter adds depth and richness and texture and strength to our life story.' Ruth, your walk-in-the-rain chapter has added joy to your life story. It would seem you were due for a joyful chapter. Thank you for sharing it.
<3 Thanks for sharing your stories, Ruth, and thanks for choosing joy. You're such an encourager in so many ways, even when you don't think so!