Third Week of Advent

“You can complain because roses have thorns, or you can rejoice because thorns have roses”

~ Ziggy ~

This Sunday is Gaudete Sunday, or "Rejoice" Sunday.  I think it's beautiful that in the midst of the Advent Season, a season already set apart to focus on joy and hope and excitement, we mark a special day, a special candle, a special name to reiterate the importance of rejoicing.  

But to be honest, this year I don't feel much like rejoicing on this particular Sunday.  I am on the road, the entire Sunday to be spent coming back from Mike's friend's wedding in Pennsylvania; it has not been an easy trip to make in many ways, and it is certainly not easy to "rejoice" on the road for 22 hours straight.  On top of that, this Guadete Sunday falls on December 16th, always a hard day for me, a date of heavy-heart and grieving.  It was our due date for our first pregnancy, the day we continue to recognize as Esperanza's Birthday, despite having lost her to miscarriage.  So rejoicing is not the first thing on my mind this day, by any means.  

Yet I believe in Guadete Sunday!  I believe in the need to celebrate - truly celebrate - all that is good and beautiful and awe-inspiring.  To invite celebration and praise for those glorious blessings in our lives!  It's not always easy.  Finding time to do anything, even celebrate, seems to get harder and harder in our busy lives.  And as busyness abounds, pressures increase and stress levels rise, it seems harder and harder to recognize blessings to even know what to celebrate.  But those blessings are there.  They're there even in times of sorrow, grief, stress (they're even there on long evil road trips).  GOD never stops blessings us; never stops wanting and creating good things for all His beloved.  That alone is reason to rejoice!  

My online dictionary tells me that the definition of "Rejoice" is:To feel joyful; be delighted.  

I hear "delighted" and I picture my daughter's face when she sees her "puppy" and the little dance she does when she's excited.  I hear delighted and I picture my son's face when his Dadda is flipping him over or tickling him until he's squealing with laughter.  I hear delighted, and I picture happiness at its best, without worry even if just for that moment, with love and peace dancing thick and almost palpable around me.  The moments are not constant, but there are moments of pure delight in my life.  My children delight.  I delight in them.  And Scriptures tell us that our GOD delights in us - finds pure joy and happiness in just the thought of us.  If GOD can rejoice in me, with all my faults, struggles and brokenness, why should I not rejoice too in the many blessings around me, despite life's faults, struggles and brokenness. 

It doesn't make this trip any easier, it doesn't make me miss my baby any less, it doesn't make the future a worry-free guarantee.  But this Guadete Sunday does make me realize that despite my situation and setting today, the Church is right to challenge us this third Sunday of Advent to find the time, space and reasons to be delighted, to rejoice.  

So during a particularly boring stretch of highway in Ohio, I took some extra time to focus on and pray about all that I have to rejoice about (and I used the next bathroom break stop to write them down).  Here are a few things that stretch of highway revealed to me.

I have reason to rejoice, because:

* Lilly is adorable when she says "puppy" and I am proud of her love for animals

* I have had the privilege of having known three children within me, which is a miracle and blessing especially in a day and age where 10% of couples deal with infertility.

* I have the love of a man who is patient and forgiving, who waited for me even before he knew me, out of trust, respect and love for both me and our GOD

*  My son says the most amazing things, pronounces "there" in a funny way and already knows Jesus perhaps more than I do 

*  I have a supportive family that knows how to be family, how to be together, how to pray for one another, how to make sacrifices for one another; a family who drives me nuts sometimes but loves me and welcomes me unconditionally even when I drive them nuts too

* I have work and can help support my family - and not only with a job, but a job that fits my vocation and uplifts me as a person and disciple

*  I have the freedom to put religious objects in my home and religious rhetoric on my blog without persecution or fear

* Adrian is really good (and cute) at saying the before meal prayer

* Lilly is so sweet when she smiles at me each morning, even with her plugger still in, and is cute when she takes her plugger at night and puts it in upside down and spins it around while in her mouth until it's just right for her

*  I know laughter, and know it in abundance

* I am exceptionally skilled at quoting movies and "Friends" episodes, and at playing Pictionary

*  I have all my senses, which allow me to hold my little ones' soft hands, see the smiles on their faces, hear the music they love to sing along to, taste the 'gookie' they're begging to have, and smell their hair when they're fresh from the bathtub

*  I can read

* I am constantly learning new things, often from my husband who is not only ridiculously smart but has a ridiculous love for rambling about new things he finds interesting

*  My kids sing and dance

*  I have a big yard that my kids and husband love, and a safe sheltering house for the kids and husband I love

* I have a really good memory, which has helped me hold onto some really good memories

* My sister can finish my thoughts, and vice-versa

* My kids are healthy!!  And happy!!!!!!! 

*  I have a GOD who not only gives me all these and so many more reasons to rejoice, but who loves me so much that I myself give Him reason to rejoice, to delight in me!  

“Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
he will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.”

    Happy Rejoice Sunday one and all!