A Drop of Sunshine #4

May 2022: Musings on Permission to Be Happy

Hello Dear Ones,

I turned 29 in April. To celebrate this glorious, blessed, unpredictable life, Cody and I took a hike beside moss-cloaked river rocks. We discussed our favorite memories, ways we’ve grown and changed, and what we’d like to see more of in our respective 29th years.

For me, I give myself full permission to be happy. Our culture has a tendency to glorify busyness and martyrdom. We’re quick to criticize rest as laziness, unabashed joy as bragging, and boundaries as selfish.

Pastor Francis Chan has a wonderful quote: “God is more concerned with your holiness than with your happiness.” I believe this is true, but I took that saying too far. I took it to mean that God doesn’t want me to be happy. That either/or thinking is false. God wants me to be holy more than He wants me to be happy…but that doesn’t mean He doesn’t want me to be happy. A quick skim of Exodus shows how much He comforts His suffering people.

I am a beloved child of God. If flawed earthly parents rejoice in their children’s happiness, how much more does a loving and holy Heavenly Father rejoice in His children’s happiness? My parents want me to be happy. Of course they also want me to be holy. If I told my parents that doing drugs made me happy, they would prioritize my safety and health over that happiness. Similarly, if I am embracing sin and claiming it makes me happy, God will call me to repent and find true joy in Him. Because He wants me to have true joy in Him.

So in my 29th year, I will embrace joy in Christ and joy in the gifts He generously gives me. I will embrace rest, grace, boundaries, travel, fun, laughter, time with loved ones, dessert, tennis, and outdoor adventures. I will embrace all the things God has made me to love and enjoy them without guilt or fear of what others might think. I will strive to live my 29th year to God’s glory, in all I say and do, including making mistakes, failing, and trying again with His help.

At the end of March, I left my job in book publicity because it was a horrible fit for my personality. I have never been happier since leaving that job. And I give myself permission to continue in that happiness and to take a risk. I’m happy to announce that risk here: Today, I’m launching my own editorial business, SK Critique!

If you’ve written a novel and need feedback to help it shine, check out my services! If you know a writer looking for developmental editing help, please share my website with them.

Thank you to everyone who made my 29th birthday so special. I’m beyond blessed to call you friends and family and I wish you all a year full of unabashed happiness.

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Until next time, I hope you enjoy this drop of sunshine.

Blessings,
Shelby

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Quote to Ponder:

“If you wish to move mountains tomorrow, you must start by lifting stones today.” - African Proverb

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What to Bake

Vanilla Sheet Cake - I made this for my niece’s one year birthday party and it was delicious. Large enough to feed a crowd and you can’t go wrong with Sally’s recipes.

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What to Listen To

Judah & The Lion : One of my favorite bands, their songs are perfect for working out and belting at the top of your lungs on a road trip. This link goes to their newest singles, which I already love. Other epic songs from their previous albums include: Suit & Jacket, Take It All Back, Help Me to Feel Again, and Spirit.

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What to Read*

How to Stop Time - Matt Haig

This book is part philosophy, part time-hopping romance, and I loved every paragraph. It’s a great read that makes you think, but is also fun and unique.

*I’m an affiliate of Bookshop.org and I will earn a small commission if you purchase from this link.

Question for You:

What stones do you need to move today, in order to move mountains later?
For me, it’s quite literally picking up weights so I can enjoy backpacking many miles all summer long.

Until next time, wishing you sunshiny trails!
Shelby