Waving farewell to another month, I rejoice in a glance back at my June Joys joining Heather Gerwing as she hosts a monthly feature called, Share Four Somethings, where writers share the fourth Saturday of each month something in each of four categories from the previous month.
Many readers notice I choose a theme for each month, which often reflects lessons or themes from my personal life. My theme on the blog for June was “JOY”, making my theme decision easy this month!
Each month the four categories remain the same: something loved, something gleaned, something braved (or saved), and something achieved.
The premise delights me; the new categories falling right in line with my one word 2022 journey with Resilience! Looking back over the previous month through these four categories helps me linger with God’s goodness, and ignites my gratitude.
something Loved
Starting off my June Joys: Share Four Somethings: my something loved shines forth in my precious granddaughter Grace Gabriella! We celebrated her third birthday by enjoying a fun filled day at Dutch Wonderland, a local children’s theme park.
Full of energy she loves all of the excitement and fun the park offers. Far from a fan of amusement parks, when my daughter takes her, Grace rides most of the attractions she can ride alone. What fun to have Pops and Gigi join her!
The highlight of the day came at one of their live fairy tale shows. The shows provide fun entertainment, audience interaction and always include high diving! Grace completely immerses herself in the show and sits mesmerized the entire time.
At the end, the hero “Prince” was waving good bye to the audience and she blew him a kiss with both hands. I sat shocked as he caught her eye and her kiss, pressed it to his heart and blew a kiss back! So precious!
something gleaned
In keeping with my June Joy reflections, Margaret Feinberg’s, “Fight Back with Joy” drew me in with its subtitle: Celebrate More, Regret Less. Stare Down Your Greatest Fears.
The story of Feinberg’s epic battle with breast cancer, she meets each of us in our own hard places. From the day of diagnosis, she knew she required great strength for the battle which lay before her. The weapon of choice for the warfare? JOY.
As a hospice worker, I have walked many a path with cancer patients; it is a path not for the faint of heart. Fueled by her strong faith, Feinberg takes us along into the battle where we learn God often nudges us off the smooth roads into the rocky trails, where we more fully encounter JOY.
Shattering the myth which proclaims JOY only flourishes in pleasant places, she offers hope for the sufferer and tools for those who support those suffering.
Filled with scripture lessons learned along the way, she blesses her readers with wisdon only found in the fire. My biggest takeaway was an early lesson she shared from the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians written while imprisoned.
“The journey to JOY begins with acceptance” The embrace of what is, not what we wish it could be.
Life’s thorniest paths can lead to great JOY
Margaret Feinberg
something braved
Pondering my Something Braved this month in light of my Joy theme puzzled me at first. But upon reflection, made perfect sense. Especially considering all I learned in Margaret Feinberg’s book.
While my Something Loved brought immense JOY to my heart in celebrating my precious Grace’s third birthday, it also brought intense pain.
June 14th, the day of Grace’s birthday, also happens to be the birthday of my oldest daughter, who currently remains estranged from our family.
As with all of my children’s birthdays, my mama’s heart still remembers the day of the week and exact time of their physical birth. Tuesday, June 14, 1983 at 6:01 am, my daughter breathed her first breath on this earth.
And so I learned an important lesson on June 14th; God turned my mourning into JOY.
As I surrendered my sorrow to Him, He freed me to not only fully enjoy Grace’s day, but through Grace remember the sweeter days of my daughter’s childhood. Ultimately rejoicing in her strengths, beauty and the privilege of giving her life.
something achieved
Rounding out my June Joys: Share Four Somethings, is another new category, dedicated to things achieved. For goal setting geeks, this category offers an opportunity to shine. But even if goal setting makes you squeamish, right here is the place for celebrating even baby steps towards getting things done.
Truly a joy-filled endeavor, June welcomed the completion of my memorizing the entire chapter of Romans 8 in the King James version.
Full disclosure: I previously memorized verses 28-39, leaving only the first twenty-seven verses for scripture memory and then the melding of the two sections. After spending many months with this chapter, I believe Romans 8 is one of the most powerful chapters in all of the New Testament.
From start to finish we find Hope in every form possible, empowering us to face every trial knowing God works all for our good and His glory, never allowing anything to seprate us from His love.
june joys: share four somethings
Thank you for taking a leisurely walk back through my June Joys with me! I am grateful to Heather for creating such a creative way to review the moments of our days which often slip by so quickly. Sharing Four Somethings is a way to savor one more time those things we loved, gleaned, braved and achieved!
But you don’t have to be a writer or blogger to enjoy this practice. Why not take a few moments and think back over YOUR June Joys and share four somethings with me in the comments! Meet me back here at the end of July for more joyful somethings!
I am really enjoying how you are theming each month! Love your posts!
Thank you, Heather! It’s part of how I review my month, I’m always amazed what I come up with!
Loved taking a leisurely walk back through June with you. I do the same thing with my estranged adult daughter, while my heart hurts and I wait. I too remember the day and time of her birth and the details. I love recalling memories of her growing up. And she has grown into a lovely young lady. Happy belated Birthday to little Grace!
Sweet Paula, thank you for your fellowship in suffering. God is gracious to allow us to remember the beauty of our daughters’ childhood and to appreciate the brave and lovely women they have become. May He unite and reconcile us in His love one day soon.
Such a sweet birthday girl, and precious memory made with her! Praying for reconciliation between you and your daughter. Have a great month!
Thank you, Cindy for your kind words! AND thank you for your prayers! See you next month!
I love how you tied together your “Four Somethings” with the theme of joy. I’m glad you enjoyed celebrating Grace’s birthday with her. The photos are lovely! And well done on memorising Romans 8. That’s a chapter I’d love to memorise at some point.
Lesley, I pray about a theme for each month for my posts, and found it interesting when I sat down to write this one how much God had woven that theme throughout my days in June! An unexpected delight! I absolutely love Romans 8-truly a powerful chapter to have ready at hand!
Your Grace Gabriella is just precious and how blessed you were to celebrate her birthday together. Praying for the Lord to bring healing and restoration with your daughter. May you fight for joy as you persevere in prayer!
Thank you Joanne for your kind words about Grace! We think she’s pretty special! Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers for my oldest daughter!
As always, it’s a pleasure to read your 4 Somethings. Grace is so cute! And how fitting you focused on “The journey to JOY begins with acceptance” when talking about your here-and-now situation. Hugs to you in your sorrow; but praying someday there will be a turnaround.
Kudos on memorizing Romans 8, one of the most fantastic pieces of scripture God has given us. I love it all but have to say v. 28 speaks to me when we believers are suffering over something. He will bring good out of it. We might not be able to see how, but He will.
Thank you, Jerralea! I’m so glad you enjoy reading my Four Somethings posts! I pray about a theme for the month for my posts, but never realized how much God wove it into my days until I wrote this post! I do appreciate your kind prayers!
I absolutely love Romans 8, I don’t think a day goes by that one or another of the verses pop up for me throughout my days!
Your little Grace Gabriella is so beautiful! I’m glad you were able to celebrate her third birthday at such a fun place. But oh, such mixed emotions that it’s also the birthday of your oldest daughter. June 6 is my oldest daughter’s birthday and it was a hard, hard day.
Thank you Lisa, for taking the time to read my post and for your most kind words. I am truly saddened for your grief relating to your relationship with your oldest daughter. I can honestly say we have fellowship in this sorrow. May you know the healing presence of the God of all comfort in the darkest times. Hugs and prayers to you, my friend.
What a sweet photo of the birthday girl…she is a cutie!! And such a gift how our Lord can turn our mourning and deepest hurts into joy. Not taking everything away – but restoring our soul. Thank you for that testimony – and wonderful reminder (oh how many times He has done just that for me)! Your memorizing all of chapter 8 encourages me to press on with my 8 verses from the same chapter that I am trying to memorize this summer. Thanks –
Jennifer I truly appreciate when you visit! Your kind words bless and encourage me. I am learning sometimes God does not lead us by still waters, but He is always with us, and ultimately brings the soul healing we need.
Grace Gabriella sounds so precious! Rejoicing with you that you were able to celebrate her special day with her. Thanks for the book recommendation! Big hug for the sorrow, and a smile with tears for the step forward in remembering the beautiful times of the past while surrendering the pain of today’s estrangement. Congratulations on the reward of intentional memorization of Romans 8, Donna!
Thank you, so much Lisa, for your kind words! Grace is a very special little girl who has shown such resilience in her own bad situation of losing her daddy. I’ll take all the hugs you offer, and am blessed by your continual support and kindness!
That book sounds like a good read. I’ll have to check it out.
Thank you, Megan, I think you will enjoy’s Margaret’s book!
I sorry about the estrangement – that must be heart breaking. It is far more common that people think. I also refuse to post about Mothers day or fathers day on fb because I don’t know who is going thru what and I think it’s unnecessary to rub that in anyone’s face (given the rest of the world does). Hopefully you figure a way to be what they need you to be. #Dreamteam
Thank you, Lydia for stopping by to read my post. Indeed, these special Mother’s and Father’s Day holidays are so painful for many. I appreciate your sensitivity!
I delighted in your walk of JOY!
Visiting from S4S
Thanks so much Barb!!
What an encouragement to read about how God brought you joy through your granddaughter’s shared birthday with your daughter. God is faithful! I pray that what is broken will soon be mended.
Visiting today from SFS
Thank you, Kym, for your kind words! I think God had me choose Joy for my June theme for a good reason!