Finding joy in dirty diapers

How's that for a title?

Bet it got your attention.

That was a similar text I sent to my husband last week. That has also been the common theme of my thoughts lately.

Finding JOY in .........

Dishes
Preparing meals
Home schooling
Disciplining
Budgeting
Shopping
Cleaning
Laundry
Sickness

A friend was telling me about a book she read recently, As Silver Refined, by Kay Arthur. In this book the author talks about the five "Deadly D's." These D's are disappointment, dicouragment, dejection, despair, and finally demoralization. The downward spiral starts with disappointment.

As she continued to talk, the pieces to my wandering thoughts seemed to come together. The root to many of my sins is my desire to be like God. In my head and heart I don't truly desire to be God, but by my actions I play God.

I like control. I like having control. I want things to go according to my control. I don't like change. I'm fearful of the unknown. I'm a planner....

Therefore, I am often disappointed. I put expectations on people that are just unrealistic. I keep trying to come up with plans, rewards, charts to make things go just the way I want them but in the end I'm left feeling disappointed and unhappy. Eventually the tasks of daily life are a burden and I can't find joy.

Then it hit me. My joy cannot be found in the tasks of daily life, in being a mother, or even being a wife. My joy comes from abiding in Christ.

John 15:4-5 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

John 15:8-11 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you , and that your joy may be made full."

I'm left with the question, "Am I abiding in Christ's love?" If I am truly abiding in Christ's love He promises that His joy will be in me and it will be made FULL!

....and even in changing dirty diapers!