“All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still 'about to be'.”
― C.S. Lewis, Surprised by Joy: The Shape of My Early Life

The water is sloshing in the dishwasher beside me (the soundtrack a busy mom of five delights in) as I sip chamomile tea from one of my favorite teacups. The children are tidying up from their allotted time of kinetic sand play, whilst the baby naps peacefully atop a well-worn, cozy quilt. The joys of a homemaker are abundant.

Until they aren’t.

I say this as someone who has struggled (and wasted precious time) with worrying about what was to come, the heart work I feel I’ve failed to do, the piles of unfolded laundry, and the mental prayer intention list that grows longer by the hour. The mental fog will engulf, rendering oneself completely untethered, adrift so far from the safe harbor of the home that was attempting to be cultivated.

Everything has its season, overwhelm with household duties, anxiety over health or finances, or grief for our failures. One is left longing for those fleeting moments of joy that never seem to last long enough. Yet the further I walk this journey of motherhood, the more I realize when difficult seasons present themselves, it is my duty as the gatekeeper of what is good and beautiful within our home to meet them with grace, to remember Joy. There will always be trials to endure, but we are stewards of young hearts and minds for such a short span of time.

When milestones begin to be reached by your children it can feel bittersweet but treasure every new step they take. When life’s troubles begin to rain down, praise Him for the foliage that will now become a little greener after the storm passes. When funds are low, thank Him for the lessons of resourcefulness gained whilst making do with little. When the children begin to bicker, count it as a blessing that He has revealed where little hearts and minds need more guidance.

Joy can be remembered and called upon even in our darkest hours. Why else would we be allowed to experience these glimmers of golden light that infiltrate so deeply? Why else would we long for something so innocently riveting as a place in time seized by joy? Joy is a treasure for our storehouse friends. Capture these moments and tuck them away in the locket of your hearts for that rainy day. Call upon them when your longing for the light at the end of a dark and damp tunnel. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Peace be with you, and with your spirit.