The Official Writing Challenge
BACK TO
CHALLENGE
MAIN
INSTRUCTIONS
how it works
submission rules
guidelines for
choosing a level
ENTRIES
submit your entry
read current entries
read past entries
challenge winners
Our Daily Devotional HERE
Place it on your site or
receive it daily by email.


TRUST JESUS TODAY

  • Share
  • how it works
  • Submit
Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: JOIE DE VIVRE (delight in being alive) (08/18/16)
Lilly Rose sprang from her bed and ran to her window. "All the kids are outside already!" she screamed in her head. Then she nearly tripped and fell on her face as she pulled on her pants and quickly ran outside to her front yard to meet: Emily, Jillian, Sam and Devin.

Three hours later, all 5 kids entered Lilly's house through the kitchen door where her mother was busy putting away the last of the breakfast dishes.

"Hey Mom, we're starved; what's for lunch!" Lilly shouted.
The years passed quickly, and then in what seemed like the blink of an eye, Lilly was in her mid-thirties with kids of her own. One afternoon, she called her mother to chat about the challenges of life and motherhood.

"Well everyone goes through these things, BUT one thing I've learned is that whenever I feel down, if I immediately start to pray and focus on God the weight of the world seems to be instantly lifted from my shoulders......in fact.....that's the ONLY way I've found I can help myself when life's problems or just the mundaneness of it all gets to me."

"Hmmm.....of course, why didn't I think of that! Thanks Mom!"
After that, Lilly began going to God every time she felt discouraged or overcome by that familiar "hum-drum" feeling and by the time she reached her late forties, she began spending even more time: thinking about God, praying and reading her Bible.

Then in her early fifties, she joined a neighborhood Bible study. "You know.....as children we naturally feel great delight that come from just simply living life. I think the reason is that we still have so much of God's nature in us. But then as we grow into adulthood, the harshness of life and all the responsibilities begin to take their toll....BUT.....we can still have that Joie De Vivre we all crave! All we have to do is make of point of focusing on God and the things of heaven and mediating on His word and instantly we can experience His joy; much like the childlike joy we used to know and love.....After all, God is our Father and He desires joy for His children, just like we do as parents, only with God we get to have the out-of-this-world kind of joy, like it says in the Psalm 119.103: "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!"
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
Accept Jesus as Your Lord and Savior Right Now - CLICK HERE
JOIN US at FaithWriters for Free. Grow as a Writer and Spread the Gospel.
This article has been read 790 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
Robyn Harbour
08/27/16
I agee, prayer does change our day into joy. Prayer changes our perspective on life.
C D Swanson 
08/27/16
The connection with God through prayer is to feel continuous joy and peace. The connection with Him overall...beyond description.

Lovely entry and so on topic!

Well done.

God Bless~
Kathryn Stewart
08/31/16
Although the title seems a little broad and the beginning was a little choppy for me to follow, I do agree that moms of all ages with kids of all ages can benefit from the reminder that prayer must guide us through all the joys and challenges and sometimes drudgery of daily parenting. I believe that every task, no matter how small,is part of God's larger purpose for families these days and every task is valuable. As a mom with a large family, I often "put away the breakfast dishes" or match a whole basket of assorted socks and as I work, offer my efforts up to God in prayer. It helps me to keep that larger perspective. Hope this insight helps. Good luck!
Lea Austin
09/01/16
I have found the points in your story to be so true in my own life. Seems like the older I get and the darker the world becomes, the more time I need to spend with the LORD in prayer and Bible study. Thanks for sharing this.