Nonna’s kNOWledge LIVE IN THE NOW WITH JOY B Y C A R O LY N J O Y Joy – the confidence to know that God is in control! As a grandmother (and mother) of a growing family, you may be like me - wanting to maintain control. At the very least, it makes my heart sing to keep things in order. In my younger years, I would get dismayed if my world were falling apart around me. But now, in my more mature years, I have come to understand that God has everything in His control. Having sixteen children and grandchildren has taught me that anything can happen at anytime. And it usually does. Whether it is ice cream sundae on my clean kitchen floor, black permanent marker on my white carpet, or ending up in the deep end of the pool when you can’t quite swim, life is full of twists and turns. Wisdom is the art of living skillfully in whatever situation is thrown your way. Having a house clean and organized with closets that are aligned and color-coded may seem perfect. But is it? Perhaps “perfect” means the laughter of children, the spilling of food and toys that are strewn all over the floor. Maybe “perfect” is the washer, dryer, and dishwasher all running at the same time. Or maybe most “perfect” of all is the awareness that little faces and stressed-out young parents are watching all my responses, giving me the opportunity to show them the love of Jesus. It is a time to breathe deep, remain calm, and be honored that the King would trust me to represent the Good News of Christ.
What situations is He entrusting to you? You can rest in the assurance that God will always be with you, even when your world is spinning in reverse. Look at the birds in the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26 NIV) Remember that after a storm, birds sing, and with God’s help, you can too. Live in the moment NOW, with joy, and don’t sweat the small stuff. Carpe diem - seize the day. NONNA’S CHUCKLES: My daughter was waiting in the airport with her daughters (two and four years old) when the announcement was made to board her plane. Anxiously my daughter said, “Okay girls, get back into the stroller so we can walk to the airplane.” “Why do we have to get back into the stroller?” my granddaughter asked quizzically. Taken a bit off guard and trying to regain control, my daughter answered, “Because that is the rule.” My granddaughter looked up with big brown eyes from the freedom of her airport lobby seat. Then, a bit puzzled, she quipped, “I am pretty sure you just made up that rule.” 45
