a mantra.

we have all seen this image, heard this phrase, thought it a worthy enough statement to make into a 'blog button', hang it on our walls.
it could easily be called a 'mantra' [if repeated unnecessarily often and believed in as a source of wisdom] especially when referring to the era in which the poster first made it's debut;
which you can read about here.
but not for me.  there is not enough joy exuded in it's phrasing for me.
who wants to keep calm and carry on when you can smile and laugh and jump up and down and watch your babies sleep in your arms.
so much more than carrying on, right?

needless to say, up and down as i so often am, i have never been able to choose or stick to a mantra, per say.
however, i was completely blind-sided and slapped in the face with a line in a song [i had never heard before] this sunday in church.

Spare us any joy that’s not of You


do you hear this statement?  
spare us any joy that is not of You.  spare us any joy that is not of God.  


that is powerful.  
beautiful.  
strong and bold.  


wise.  

and of course.  

of course this is what we should long for.  

we sang these words 
and this line in the middle spoke right to me.  


the rest of the the lyrics were quite confirming, too. 


Save us from these comforts
Break us of our need for the familiar
Spare us any joy that’s not of You
And we will worship You

{see source, here}

wow.  

so now i have a mantra.  

Spare us any joy that’s not of You.

Spare us any joy that is not of You.  

Spare us any joy that is not of You.  

LOVE.

enjoy!

-c.  (=