When times are tough and things of this world threaten to shatter our peace and steal our joy, quickly turn your thoughts to pleasant things that speak life into your heart and soul. What restores your peace and joy, friends? Allow me to share my thoughts here.

For me, when the world comes crashing in, all I have to do is shift my focus to my darling daughters. I escape the grownup woes for a little while by playing like a child again in their world. Oh the fun we have dancing around, laughing freely, throwing our heads back as we laugh so hard that our sides hurt. Just tonight we had such a moment. We were watching Titanic, of all things. My entire family was glued to the television. During a dancing scene, my oldest daughter disappeared into her room and returned shortly thereafter shuffling her feet, dancing around, kicking up her heels, all the while twirling a blanket over her head. We burst into uncontrollable laughter. None of us were expecting that, but it was the best thing she could have done to entertain us at that moment. These are the times that we’ll remember forever!

At other times, when things seem to come at me from all different directions, I make my escape to the sandy shores of a nearby beach! We’re blessed to live within driving distance of several beaches. While the water isn’t clear, and we don’t have white sandy shores … we do have an abundant amount of God’s beauty for our eyes to feast upon. There is just something about sitting on the beach no matter what time of day! There is no wrong time to be at the beach, in my opinion (okay, okay, except for when a hurricane is approaching!).

Long walks along the sandy shores restore my sanity, my peace of mind, and my joy! Being at one with nature, soaking in all of the wonders of God’s creations. He never ceases to amaze me with such bright and vivid colors as the sun is rising in the morning to the peaceful calm of the setting sun. Oh the joy that fills my soul as I stand next to the water’s edge feeling the water lapping at my feet as I stroll along with every wave that comes crashing to the shore beneath me. Something wonderful happens when I’m at the beach. It’s even more breathtakingly beautiful walking along hand in hand with my daughters.

God is good. He calms the sea, and He calms the storms in my life with the beauty He crafted and spoke into being … all of His creations that surround me revitalize, rejuvenate, and restore me once again.