Sara is a blogger I discovered a year or so ago, and she also has written for (in)courage, an online community of women writing about God and life. I became immediately drawn in by Sara’s story, a young woman diagnosed with a debilitating disease and therefore robbed of everything she thought she had and all she thought life was going to hold for her.
In such a circumstance, I probably would’ve shriveled up and given up. Sara, though, did the opposite. Homebound for years, she loved and loved BIG. She poured out her heart and she chose joy (also the title of her blog).
I have never met this woman, and she does not know that I exist, but I am inspired. I know how often I choose to not choose joy. I instead choose to complain. I choose anger at God for what He has withheld from me and frustration at people who do not conform to my expectations. I choose many things, but not often joy.
Sara’s story has taught me that joy is a choice. Life will be hard. Whatever course the rest of my life takes, however long or short, it will contain sorrow and grief and loss and pain. I cannot prevent it or fix it or delay it. It is a reality.
But I can still choose to praise the One who rescued me from the grave, the One who bought me from captivity, who gives me breath and life and purpose. I can choose to be joyful that I stand redeemed and forgiven and whole.
Sarah is on her way home.
into a beautiful, perfect eternity where every sad thing will be undone.
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