I woke up, instantly and sadly, at 2:57am this morning. Just another early morning wake up that happens for no particular reason other than to steal my joy.
I used to let EVERYthing steal my joy.
I’ve used the phrase “I’m not going to let _________ steal my joy” about a dozen times since I watched a Joel Osteen broadcast yesterday morning. 
Simply put, we tend to allow annoyances like rude people, traffic, bad weather and other little parts of life steal our joy from us because we don’t make up our minds beforehand to protect our joy. This message really resonated with me! I’m getting better but I have quite a long way to go. (You should have heard me when I let a customer service rep from my bank steal my joy during Christmas shopping! Deck the Halls was replaced with Deck the Rep~ not a pretty sight.)
Last night, our cable remote was temporarily and certifiably insane as it kept directing my son to channels he didn’t select. As he was beginning to “lose his cool”, I told him to not let BrightHouse steal his joy. Fact is, I’ll probably make this my new mantra and make everyone insane in the process but I just like it. It just makes sense.
So when I woke up at 2:57am, I was hopeful. Sleep may have gone for a moment but it’s coming right back, right? Right? Of course, somewhere around 4am, I realized that sleep wasn’t meant to be and I was about to get pretty irritated by it…then I rolled over and thought to myself “Your life is pretty darn good, Amy. You don’t have a work commute, you have lunch scheduled with a friend, the weekend was amazing and you can catch a nap later today.”
So I was going to let interrupted sleep steal my joy when my life is so good? When God has been and will continue to be so good?
Not today. Who says you can’t teach an old dogs new tricks?
Be blessed,
Amy
LOVE THAT! 2012 was awful for us, I won’t bore you with the gory details…Our new thing is to laugh at everything! Amazing how calming it is and makes the other person laugh harder! I ain’t gonna lie it doesn’t ALWAYS work, but 90% of the time it does and that’s why I haven’t “snapped!”
Hmm, I don’t know Amy. While 3 am wake-up could steal anyone’s joy – you may have woke up early for a far more meaningful purspose – such as medating on particular scripture, or possibly praying for someone with a heavy heart, or one of unbelief. Hard to say,,, but fantastic attitude so that you do not permit it to destroy your day.
Humor!!! I love humor and recognize its healing benefits in nearly every circumstance!!