I just finished reading a beautiful book written by Shauna Niequist titled Cold Tangerines. The book is a beautiful collection of stories that focus in on celebrating the joy in everyday life. I’ve always held joy to a higher standard than happiness. Certainly happiness is good! In fact, I think that to be happy and to have happy moments is a blessing. With that said, however, I also think that happiness tends to come and go. Joy on the other hand; joy does not. I believe that joy is Godly. I believe that it is rooted deeply within us and goes far beyond the happy moments that come and go. Every day life presents so much joy! The trick, I have learned, is to see it and to believe in it. The way that Shauna encourages us to celebrate the joy in our every day (often chaotic and busy) lives is a message that I am grateful to have read. Joy is Godly and it is all around us! Millions of moments each day present us the opportunity to celebrate the joy that lives within them. Accept these moments as a gift from God and let that joy carry you throughout your day.
Cold Tangerines left me with so many new favorite quotes to live by. Shauna’s way with words is inspiring and I highly recommend her work if you are unfamiliar with it. Before I close, I wanted to share one of my favorites from the book as it is reminds me to press onward as I work to pursue my dream in sharing my own story, through my writing. The quote from Author Shauna Niequist reads, “You have stories worth telling, memories worth remembering, dreams worth working toward, a body worth feeding, a soul worth tending, and beyond that, the God of the universe dwells within you, the true culmination of super and natural. You are more than dust and bones. You are spirit and power and image of God. And you have been given Today.”
Find that joy that lives within your every day life. See it and believe in it because it is a precious gift from God!
Xoxo, Anna
