Mom Heart Moments #340

Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

EVERY YEAR WHEN WE COME TO the busy season of Christmas, it seems we all feel the pressure to give perfect gifts to friends and family, becoming stressed trying to live up to expectations surrounding us. But long after each year’s gifts have been forgotten, if we’ve given our loved ones the gift of a joyful heart, they will have something that will be with them their whole lives.

How can we do this? The first step is to have a heart that says to others, “I receive you into my life as a gift from God.”

Then, a joyful heart seeks to encourage every day —to intentionally give words of life and encouragement to those who so need to hear that they are loved.

A joyful heart is one that plans surprises —lighting candles, putting on beautiful Christmas music, serving a cup of tea, hot chocolate, or coffee even in the midst of a busy day, maybe even with a little treat —and says, “Let’s make a memory together right now —you are special to me.” It might lead you to bring a single rose to a friend or leave a love note on a pillow or in an email to a weary husband, a struggling friend, someone you appreciate, or a far-off child.

Perhaps your joyful heart might cause you to take time to play a game, giggle at stories, lie in bed with a toddler or teen late at night even when you are weary and just want to go to sleep.

A joyful heart says, “Where can I leave a spirit of Christ’s fragrance today? Where can I dance the dance of life in the midst of darkness?”

Where do your thoughts and beliefs about life, children, and your circumstances generally come from? We have to guard our hearts and everything that goes into them if we want to live wisely. What are some ways you may need to guard your heart so it might become a joyful one today?