Love Note #84: it's not time to hold back
I was so tempted to hold back on sending the Love Note tonight in light of everything going. I kept wondering if it was too much and if I was dancing the line of toxic positivity as I focus on finding the joy when everything feels so heavy. I don’t know how many times I’m going to type sentences like that as I send these newsletters. And each time I’m reminded, maybe hilariously so, that that’s the point. That’s what we do here, right?
I don’t know why I keep forgetting.
It feels impossible, because the world feels so dark. It feels ridiculous because it is. Searching for and fighting for joy, especially during times like these, can feel backwards, confusing…and really just gosh-darn difficult. And so I want to encourage all of us to remember this. To fight for this. And then actively participate in the joy that CAN be found around us.
We can abide with those who are hurting and scared and still seek spots of joy. We can love and care for the broken world around us and still see the light. We can feel the heaviness and sadness of everything going on and still have hope. What I needed to remember today, and maybe you did too, is that we can shine the light on the joy around us even as we process and rage and mourn. We don’t have to reject joy as we process everything going on around us. We just need to make room for both.
So today I send love and joy to all of you and the world around us.
Love and joy…and a reminder to not let the darkness win.
See you next week…
💛 Love, Jill
p.s. fun and funnies will return next week, but wanted to leave a prayer before we go. Tomorrow is Shrove Tuesday, or Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras. So eat all the pancakes (or whatever you want) as we head into the season of Lent on Wednesday. But I pray that this small prayer will bring hope and light and joy to your week:
Our Father,
Lord, in this season of darkness may we always remember that YOU are the source of Light. May we remember that Easter is coming. And, Lord, let us not forget that joy can be found - even when it feels impossible. Amen.