Friday, February 19, 2010

joie de vivre!

dear  emily,

one of my chief regrets in raising my flock is that i worried too
much about doing it well and not enough about doing it with
joy.  is there another word that makes your heart lift like that
little one?

recently, i read a darwin quote, in which he bemoaned that
he couldn't enjoy a line of poetry, shakespeare, art, or music
like he did "up to the age 30...the loss of these tastes is a loss
of happiness and possibly injurious to the intellect, and more
probably to the moral character..."

when i am 90, i want to giggle with my great grandchildren as
we wiggle our toes in cold, bubbly streams.  i hanker for many
hikes to the top of green hills and endless stacks of books to
devour.  i yearn to sing the "hallelujah chorus, hitting all the
high notes and have youngsters ask, "how does she sing like
that at her age?"

my hero, c.s. lewis says that "the whole of man is to drink
from the fountain of joy...like the feeling a child has when
he awakens in the morning to realize it is the beginning of
summer!"

john piper maintains that the "chief end of man is to glorify
God BY enjoying Him forever."  we have let the stoics and
kant bully us into believing happiness or joy are selfish.

life sends me hardship, pain, and loss.  i have had to sacrifice
beloved possessions and people.   but i choose not to dwell
there.

i am content that "...though i do not see Him, i believe in
Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible!"
1 peter 1:8

love,
lea

15 comments:

Vicki/Jake said...

AMEN!
good post with wise words...

~Vicki~

Jenners said...

I hope to be one of those happy childlike old ladies too!

Cinnamon said...

I love your description of playing with Grandchildren. So fun and full of life!

~Cinnamon

Vickie said...

May I join you at the top of my lungs??? Me, too, I want to enjoy and live every single minute of all the time that I have! Good post - C.S. Lewis is a favorite here at our house! Thanks for your visit! I'm adding you to my list!

Free Pretty Things For You said...

thank you!!! glad y ou liked it :)

desde my ventana said...

Thank you for visiting me,so I can now you and your interesting blog.
can understandyour) spanish but if you want it can write to me in english.
Have a nice weekend,
Cecilia

Vee said...

Ahhh, may it be so!

Jo said...

"When I am 90, I want to giggle with my great grandchildren as we wiggle our toes in cold, bubbly streams." Oh, yes!

Today I am going to some Olympic events with my Munchkins. It's about making memories for when they are 90 years-old too. :-)

Denise Kiggan said...

It is so good to remember the joy in the journey!

Single and Sane said...

How do you sing like that at ANY age?

Kate said...

Lea, you are so balanced and inspirational. Love reading your blog.

myletterstoemily said...

kate, YOU are the inspiring one! my kids would have been
a foot taller, healthier, and smarter with you as their mom!

Jodie | Velour said...

This post is a shot to my heart! I post words like giggle, and enjoy around my house to remind me to do just that. If I'm honest, it really is a struggle for me, hence all the visual reminders... to try and remember what's most important. Thank you for posting this. It's beautiful, and I needed it.
Also, I love the Scripture at the bottom. Makes me want to spread my arms wide open and spin!

His Song to Sing said...

My kids are all grown, Lea, but I get so much from your letters to Emily.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh love this!!! So there with you! I want to be known as the fun grandmother, with all the wonderful books! Until then, I want to learn to laugh with my kids more and not be so serious!
Reading through John Pipers "Taste and See" and I hear this message over and over again.

Oh taste and see the Lord...and let my children and grandchildren and great grandchildren see the joy of the Lord in me!!...JOY!

Oh, now I am getting where your daughter got her voice!!!...from you!!!!