“Choosing joy” has been a phrase that we as a team have been praying for ourselves this month. It’s December, month four, and we are in Honduras working with a ministry called Legacy of Hope. We love our ministry which involves hanging around and helping to take care of six babies and a three year old. It’s like baby-sitting or nannying, something I love. Being in a home nicely decorated for Christmas, with wonderful smells and the homey and cozy atmosphere with children all around and the laughter, giggles, tears and baby talk surrounding us, what more could we want for this month! So why would we be struggling with staying joyful in our situation?
The month started out rough. The kids had colds and we got colds (which we also think is due to the climate change from sunny Nicaragua to dreary Honduras.) We were always cold because the weather here is drizzling rain and cloudy most days. Some of the girls came down with fevers, headaches and migraines. There was even a possibility of malaria or something along those lines and an ear infection. Lice (my dreaded worst fear) and pink eye were also in the picture.
….So we were praying for joy. To choose happiness when the day was dreary and we were cold. To keep a smile on our faces or laugh aloud at something silly. To cherish the moments when the baby fell asleep in our arms after their bottle. To enjoy learning the ways of this household and participate in the activities. Changing diapers, folding laundry, cleaning floors, cooking, washing, feeding, etc. To hold a baby’s hand as she’s learning to walk. To make goofy faces and baby talk with them. To encourage each other and give positive feedback in the moment. To have great conversation over folding clothes and nit picking. And at times God just blesses you with the miracle of being lice free, on day three, after a teammate has prayed over your head!
There’s a lot that has happened this month, and it’s not over yet! Christmas is this week and as we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we remember that that’s the greatest reason to have a joyful spirit. It’s where joy began.
“Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: ” Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” ” Luke 2:10-14
The children that make our hearts happy and put a smile on our faces. .jpeg&maxwidth=640)
