Joy. I think that’s the key to success in just about everything.
On Monday, I decided to pull out a Yahweh Yoga DVD I hadn’t yet tried. Honestly, I bought it a year ago, but it got buried in a drawer until I found it the other day. I couldn’t make it to a morning gym class because Wyatt seemed to really need his morning nap and the normal car nap wasn’t going to cut it.
That DVD set the course for my week with the opening scripture:
2 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. {James 1:2-4}
I wish I could say it sunk in and was smooth sailing from there. That didn’t happen.
But on Wednesday, one of the women in an online bible study I’m a part of sent out an email (thanks Robin). She pointed out her observations from the verse of that day and how God spoke to her. The verse was Proverbs 12:25 ~ Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up ~ and she said that the second half of that verse really stood out to her with regards to how she uses her own words. It couldn’t have been more timely for me and the major melt-down I was in the middle of.
Ok, so what’s my point?
These verses reminded me of how important it is to find joy in the challenges and that all it takes is a kind word in a stressful situation to change a bad day. If I can get exercise everyday by doing something fun, I’m a whole lot more likely to find joy in the chaos and challenges of motherhood. I can accomplish that by taking a Zumba class on my own (because that is like the definition of FUN) or I can run around with my kids and turn everything into a game. The latter of which, I’ve been doing the past couple of days and WOW, what a difference I’ve seen in Dylan’s reactions.
So, that’s my advice this week. Have some fun!
Oh yeah, and I lost 1.5 lbs, so my new weight is 164.5lbs.
No biggy.
Um, wait. No, that’s not true. I jumped up and down and did a little dance with Dylan after I weighed in!
I’m very happy with my consistent and healthy weight-loss rate. I didn’t see any difference in my measurements from last week, but I still think I’m starting to see a difference. Most importantly, though, I feel a difference.
How was your week?? Do you have any suggestions for fun workouts? What were your struggles? Please comment or link-up below!
That is awesome! I still haven’t started exercising. My daughter loves to dance around the house. Thanks to your suggestions, I’m going to start joining her!
Oh my goodness, I saw your blog link at the bottom of the email our devotional group has been circulating, and I came over here to read such sweet words! 🙂 It is so amazing how we are all connecting and finding such peace and comfort in each other.
I am taking an adult gymnastics class and I’m having a blast. I sought out google to see how many calories I might be burning, and it said 265 an hour (how long the class is)! 265 for bouncing around on trampolines and doing cartwheels? Yes please! Anyway, I know gymnastics isn’t for everyone, but TRAMPOLINE could be, and most towns these days have a Sky High or a Sky Zone, and have “hour long” passes. Bouncing sure would be fun! Oh and it gets even better…..kids LOVE to bounce, so you could take them too, they’ll love you for it, and it’ll tire them out! 🙂
I’m still doing the treadmill at the gym, but I need to find something to do on the weekends when I’m at home. Wait…don’t I have a Wii with several exercise games? Yes, yes I do. 🙂
🙂 <3 GOOD FOR YOU
I’m so happy for you and you’ve done so much for me. More than you can possibly know.
I will try to remember these verses this week and also try to have some fun.