Laugh: Five Minute Friday

November 18, 2022 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

I’m home with two sick kids today. Influenza A has struck our household and ruined a lot of plans this week. Sam and I took turns staying home with them, so today’s my day. I’m joining my Five Minute Friday community today while the girls sleep in cozy spots on the couch and while Boss Baby plays at a low volume in the background. This week our prompt is Laugh.

As an Enneagram One, I tend to take life and myself seriously. My expectations are high and unmet standards often lead to frustration. I get anxious, depressed, and overwhelmed naturally and don’t need much to go “off-plan” in order for those negative temperments to eclipse the joy and laughter that I often seek.

That’s why we aren’t meant to do life alone.

On our own, each of us can be a bit much. Maybe your struggle isn’t perfectionism, but something in your personality toolbox when left unchecked can bring you down.

God has gifted me with friends and family of every other Enneagram number that help bring balance to my personality type.

I need a Two to remind me that life isn’t about me. Threes help me to channel my energy efficiently. Fours encourage me to embrace my creative energy and thinking. Fives give me the power to question the world and my own motives–they also remind me to be calm in the midst of chaos. Sixes bring out some of the negatives in me, but also show such tangible loyalty that I’m safe to feel all things with the promise of their continued friendship. Sevens bring the party and help me to lighten up and live in the moment. Eights seek justice and challenge me to consider other ways of thinking. And most importantly (because this is my husband), Nines bring peace to all that wars in my mind.

I have a lot to laugh about today.

Poetic irony. Naive four-year-old worldviews. Silly moments in the classroom like getting called “Mom” several times a day. Friendship. Self reflection. Television shows. Books.

All of these things bring cause for laughter to my life.

May I not take myself so seriously. May this day at home with sick girls be filled with glimpses of joy and laughter between all of the napping and hydration. May laughter be the background noise to a mind focused on doing my best. May I learn to laugh when I am reminded that perfection is a myth.

The Ameri Brit Mom

Five Minute Friday: Joy

December 9, 2016 The Ameri Brit Mom4 Comments

This week the topic for the Five Minute Friday link-up post is Joy. What is a link-up? Essentially a link-up is when you join other bloggers and write on a similar topic. You share your blog posts with one another and begin conversations via a host site. You can head over to Kate Motaung’s page to check out other entries from inspired bloggers. Here’s my five minutes of uninterrupted, unedited writing on this week’s topic:

joy-600x600

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)

It’s been a week. Not one of those overly productive, exciting, or joyful weeks. It’s been a week of falling behind, hearing bad news, hurting for people I care for, and hurting for myself. At times I’ve been tempted (and even given into) the notion of closing myself off from the rest of the world, shutting off social media, and refusing to face the issues at hand. To be honest, it was absolutely wonderful, that is until my reintroduction to reality when I had to face it all again.

I don’t know if you’ve had a week like me, but I’m sure several of you reading my post have struggled a bit this week. It doesn’t make it easier that everywhere you go you are reminded that this is the “Most Wonderful Time of the Year…”

We’re human and part of that gig is that sometimes we hurt. We get wounded and we have emotions that get triggered. The world can be a place full of hurt, but one thing this world will never be able to take away from us is our joy.

If you click my link to Kate’s page above it will take you to an inspirational Guest post for the link up written by a man named Andrew who is literally on his deathbed writing about having joy in all circumstances. My struggles are nothing compared to this man’s, yet he’s the one who seems to have his perspective aligned. I’m so thankful that he chose to point his readers to James 1:2-3 today.

Joy is all about our perspective. If we choose to wallow in our pain and suffering then our joy will be stolen faster than an unlocked Lamborghini with the keys left in the ignition. Joy is remembering that the fight is not ours. We don’t possess the powers to defeat this world on our own, but when we enlist the power of the Almighty God who formed this world in the palms of his hand then we have the power to conquer the world thousands of times over.

Each time that we face a struggle we should look at it as an opportunity to learn more and grow closer to God. Our attitude should be one that says, “I may not understand right now, God, but please show me why I am going through this and teach me to have joy despite this pain.”

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”(Psalm 30:5)

The Ameri Brit Mom

Blessings

Five Minute Friday: Joy

October 23, 2015 The Ameri Brit Mom1 Comment

Amidst the chaos that has been my life lately joy has found a place in the form of one of my favorite events of the year. Being a native of Circleville, Ohio, it is a known fact that the third week of October is nearly a religious holiday. Folks travel back home from wherever life may have led them. The Circleville Pumpkin Show is the Greatest Free Show on Earth and one of the largest social gatherings one can be a part of.

The streets are shutdown as vendors make their way to the center of town. Spectators line the paved streets as the parades march through to the familiar tunes of hometown bands. The smell of deep fried batter and pumpkin spices fill the crisp fall air. Everything about this week is reminiscent of my childhood and after the past couple of weeks this has been a welcomed scene.

Another joy in my life this week has been the company of my mother-in-law. It’s been a great time having her visit during the Pumpkin Show. I really enjoy seeing her initial reactions to everything Pumpkin.

This week joy has come in the form of pumpkins, cider, coffee, and family time.

Where have you found joy this week?