Finding Joy in the Little Things

I just wanted to take a second to thank you all for your prayers! I am constantly receiving messages from so many of you, people I barely even know, saying that you are praying for me daily. I have received so much scripture and encouragement, and I am beyond thankful. As an encouragement to all of you prayer warriors, I am happy to say that I can feel your prayers. Literally, physically feel them. 

Yesterday morning I woke up absolutely exhausted. I had gone to bed the night before with a cold…Only a stuffy nose, but still not feeling my best. I did not want to wake up at 6:45 to go work in the site. I did not want to go spend the day in a place I would not be able to have a conversation with anyone. My brain was not prepared to physically ache from the constant struggle to comprehend what is going on around me in this foreign language. All I wanted to do was crawl back into my bed, and not see or talk to anyone the entire day. 

But, obviously, that was not an option. I got up, and as I was reading my Bible, I started receiving messages from many of you saying that you were praying for me… For strength, for wisdom, for energy, for health, etc… And I knew that it was going to be a good day.

When I arrived at the site, I was hesitant to ask what was on the agenda. In the back of my mind I was thinking, “Please don’t say cleaning! I am so tired. Please don’t say cleaning! Please don’t say cleaning!” As I am standing in the door way, Katia comes around the corner… “Good morning, Molly! Today we are going to clean. Everything! Inside, outside, the kitchen, the bathroom…”  Great.

In this moment I had to make a decision. Was I going to silently scrub the floors and only think about how I wish I was sleeping, or was I going to take this opportunity that God had given me, in this beautiful country of Nicaragua, with one of the most amazing women I have ever met, and enjoy this day? 

Just as I grabbed the mop and the bleach and walked outside, someone down the street started blaring Shania Twain (to which I happen to know every single word). So here I was, on my hands and knees, covered in dirt and bleach, absolutely dripping sweat, singing and dancing to Shania Twain. In this moment it became obvious to me what my choice needed to be… and I needed to chose joy. 

We seem to miss so many opportunities in life because we mosey through each day, waiting for it to be over and for our tasks to be done. It’s quite sad actually… to think about how much we miss out on because all we can think about is how we are feeling in that moment, and that we cannot wait until bed time. 

Even today, Katia and I were working on getting some supplies ready for piñata classes. We were outside, sweating, shooing flies out of our faces… We were struggling to cut a hole in the side of the ceramic bowl. We were trying so hard and putting in so much effort that the bowl just fell from our hands and shattered on the cement. In that moment, we just looked at each other and started busting up laughing. We fell to the ground and just sat there, almost in tears. Looking back, it really isn’t funny at all. In fact, we really needed that bowl! But there was nothing we could do now. Too many moments are wasted being consumed with the negative. We ended up laughing about the bowl for the rest of the day… just because we could. 

Every morning we have a choice. Are we going to have joy, love others, and make the best with what we are given? Or are we going to worry about the little things and just go through motions… day after day after day? It is such a difficult concept. I am learning, slowly but surely! Nicaraguans are some of the most joyful people I have ever met, and I have so much to learn from them. 

So thank you for your prayers! I know that my joy is a gift from God. I know that the energy I have, even on long, hot days, is from God. I know that the health I have been blessed with, despite those around me, is because of your prayers! I feel them and need them every day. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. Be joyful today!