We all have days that go well; others that don’t. Some of my days have even included lost keys and pinched fingers. Fortunately, we have a God of loving kindness who is there every day, reaching in so we can reach out.

Here at Fave Lifestyles I hope to share encouragement and empowerment as we “walk the WOLK,” as we walk God’s words of loving kindness. I also want to be able to celebrate what God’s doing in, through, and around each one of us.

My husband, Kurt, “walks the WOLK” every day. He encourages me every day. I met Kurt as a ditzy 18-year old. We were a study in contrasts then; we are a study in contrasts now. He speaks when he has something to say; I never shut up. He’s calm, reasonable; I’m not. But more important than our differences is the journey we’ve been able to take together.

Kurt is a man of great faith who supports and encourages those around him, and I’m a grateful beneficiary. After my first episode of “Morning WOLK with God,” Kurt came into my office and sat down at my desk to talk. Kurt’s a former high school football coach and when he calls a timeout, I’ve got to put the ball down and hustle over to the sideline, if you know what I mean. Even if the games just starting (or a web show), if the coach needs my attention, I listen. I let him call the next play.

Kurt pointed to a rock on my desk and said, “You need to talk about your rock.” Knowing the words “Choose Joy!” were etched in my rock, he added, “Talk about joy.” Excited to think about a future episode, I thanked Kurt for his suggestions, made a couple notes, and went back to work.

Days later, stress started to overwhelm me. I had several days in a row where I was making a zillion—zillion with a z—client calls. There were also days with more than my usual share of online meetings, a wonderful way to stay connected, but difficult for someone needing to see eyes, hear words, and read body language. Day after day found me further and further behind with calls and messages. By Thursday, I was in tears when a co-worker asked for a small favor.

Knowing I was not at my finest, Kurt sent a short text. While I was out running errands, he thanked me for including him in one of my videos, a short feature in which I’d shared my own gratitude for him and his special place in my life. And in that moment, I got to find joy.

Friends, driving around that afternoon, I was planning a very large pity party, addressing invitations to every single person I’d ever known, ready to order a massive cake and lots of party favors. Gotta have party favors. And in that moment, I found joy. In that small moment for a small moment. I still had a zillion—zillion with a z—calls to return and emails to answer, but in that small moment I was able to cancel the pity party.

It wasn’t easy. Every part of me wanted to cling to my frustration, my anger, my righteous indignation. But into a small moment, God poured a few words of loving kindness, a text of gratitude.

God is always with us, so we can be there for others. But sometimes He’s there for us, so we we’re not there for others with our frustrations, anger, and that ol’ self-righteous indignation. Sometimes He’s there with a moment of joy in the middle of chaos and overwhelm.

In the New Testament is the book of Titus, a letter the apostle Paul wrote to a young co-worker, Titus. Writing to Titus, Paul knew that our walk as people of faith would be most compelling when we fully participate in public life (It’s what Jesus did!), when our lives look culturally similar on the surface, (Days that go well and days that don’t.), but when it’s revealed that we live by a totally different value system, knowing we have a God of loving kindness, a God who insists on being there for us in the smallest ways as well as the bigger ones.

You and I are women of faith and we are fully participating in public life, albeit pandemic-style. On the surface our lives look culturally similar. We have hard days, difficult weeks, stressful days, frustrating weeks. Too much stress, too many mis-understandings, not enough answers, no breaks. But you and I live by a totally different value system, because God steps into our frustrations, grabs hold of our anger, and stops us in our tracks of self-righteous indignation. I found joy because God found me in a small moment. God will be there for you, too, in times of frustration, anger, and—should it happen—self-righteous indignation. Watch for Him.

Two things to consider: 1) Find a rock and 2) Find joy.

First, find a rock. Go outside and find the roughest, ugliest rock. My rock is smooth, but beside it on my desk, I’ve added a second one, a rough one. I’ve also added a little gravel. Yep, gravel. Put it somewhere where you’ll see it—when times are great and also when times are rough. Then, under your rock, put a sticky note or a small piece of paper that says, “Find joy.”

Tiffany Gough (Goff), one of Fave Lifestyles contributors, shared a beautiful post encouraging us to “Find Your Joy.” Her article talks about the gift of joy and the importance of finding joy. She suggests writing down things that bring us joy and putting the list somewhere we know we’ll see it. She ends asking us to keep joy in our hearts.

This next week find a rock, find joy. As Kurt nicely reminded me at the end of our discussion, when we don’t find joy, we can find ourselves being a butt.” That’s my guy!

Today I close with a verse from the Gospel of John, chapter 15, verse 11, where Jesus says, “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

May your joy be full!

Deanna Nowadnick is the author of Fruit of My Spirit and Signs in Life.

about

Deanna Nowadnick

Before my father died, he reminded me that Mom had asked me to write a book. At the time the boys were in college, and the notion of writing was unfathomable. Writers write books. By the time my boys were adults, I’d run out of excuses. I was also at that age when I could pause and reflect.

Fruit of My Spirit: Reframing Life in God’s Grace was my first publishing endeavor. My second was Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God. Both are collections of stories that tell of God’s love and faithfulness. Both tell of His remarkable grace and mercy.

When not writing, I serve as the Client Service Coordinator for The Planner’s Edge, an investment advisory firm in Washington state. I’m active in my church, serving on the Leadership Team and gathering with a wonderful group of ladies to study and giggle over lattes and chocolate. On my desk is a rock with the words “Choose Joy!” etched in it. It’s my inspiration for each day. As an author, it is my hope that my own words might share that joy we find together as children of God.

With Him, it can be so.

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Several weeks ago I had a special errand. My friend Michol was taking the train back from a short trip to Eastern Washington. I asked to pick her up at the train station, not wanting her to arrive and then catch a bus back to Monroe. I know we’re all wearing masks and doing what we can to stay safe and socially distant, but the bus didn’t feel like a great option.

Michol and I shared emails and text messages regarding the date and time. We ended up arriving at the station within minutes of each other. Mere minutes!

While chitchatting on our drive back, I learned that Michol had left Ephrata in early morning darkness. After dropping her off at her office, I began to think about a train ride I was supposed to take as a small girl. I was supposed to leave Ephrata, too, not in the morning’s darkness, but the evening’s. I was a young girl, 8 or 9, traveling with my mom and younger brother, back from Grandma’s house.

After arriving at the station for our departure to Seattle, we learned that the train had derailed and we would need to take the bus home. I didn’t understand what a train derailment was. I just knew that the announcement had brought with it hushed conversations and lots of hurriedness (yes, it’s a word).

Boarding the bus, Mom handed me and my brother coloring books and crayons, an unexpected treat that actually added to my unease. I was too distracted for artwork. I knew Dad was planning to pick us up at the train station. How would he know to go to the bus station? Back in the day, there were no texts and emails. There were no cell phones. And even though I was sitting with my mom and brother, I was frightened. I felt lost and proceeded to worry all five hours of our trip.

In Seattle Dad was waiting for us at the bus station. Missed in our re-arrangements at the train station was a call Mom had made from a phone booth to her sister who had gone to the train station and redirected Dad to the bus station. Without a text or email, Dad found me.

Dad’s trip to the train station, the trip that became a trip to the bus station, was really just an errand. He was just picking up his family and taking us home. But for me it was much more. Seeing Dad when we pulled into the bus station, I was overcome with relief; I’d been found.

My trip to the Everett train station to pick up Michol was an errand also, a quick drive from Monroe to Everett and back again. This time my own errand became much more to me.

A year ago Michol learned she had breast cancer. Month after month she headed to Everett for treatments, procedures, chemo, and radiation. And I didn’t know how to help. Yes, I prayed for her, sent the occasional text and email, but I didn’t know how to insert my love into her mix of treatments, her schedule of appointments, her new life. It all seemed so hectic and even more hectic with all of us trying to “be there” for Michol. And she didn’t need casseroles, which is OK, because I don’t know how to do casseroles.

When Michol said she’d be taking the train home from Ephrata to Everett, I knew how to help. I knew how to step in with love for my friend. Yes, it was just an errand, an hour on a gray, dreary Monday. Yes, she was long past those days of treatments, procedures, chemo, and radiation, but the trip to Everett was my chance to “walk the WOLK,” to walk the words of loving kindness. It was my time to share love and kindness with my friend.

In Paul’s New Testament book of Titus, in chapter 3, we are encouraged to be ready for good work, devoted to good work. Paul’s not saying we do good to earn God’s good favor, God’s loving kindness. He’s reminding us that our good works are the blessed response to God’s loving kindness that became our saving grace. That particular version in the English Standard Version of the Bible is titled, “Be Ready for Every Good Work.” God gave me the time and this time I was ready.

Our weeks are busy ones. Some errands will be just that—a quick trip to the post office, groceries. Some errands may be more—for you and for the person you’re with. What a blessing that will be for you and for the person you’re with.

from Psalm 25:5

Guide us in your truth, Lord, and teach us, for you are God our Savior. Our hope is in you. Amen.

Deanna Nowadnick is the author of Fruit of My Spirit and Signs in Life.

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about

Deanna Nowadnick

Before my father died, he reminded me that Mom had asked me to write a book. At the time the boys were in college, and the notion of writing was unfathomable. Writers write books. By the time my boys were adults, I’d run out of excuses. I was also at that age when I could pause and reflect.

Fruit of My Spirit: Reframing Life in God’s Grace was my first publishing endeavor. My second was Signs in Life: Finding Direction in Our Travels with God. Both are collections of stories that tell of God’s love and faithfulness. Both tell of His remarkable grace and mercy.

When not writing, I serve as the Client Service Coordinator for The Planner’s Edge, an investment advisory firm in Washington state. I’m active in my church, serving on the Leadership Team and gathering with a wonderful group of ladies to study and giggle over lattes and chocolate. On my desk is a rock with the words “Choose Joy!” etched in it. It’s my inspiration for each day. As an author, it is my hope that my own words might share that joy we find together as children of God.

With Him, it can be so.