“Well, kids are resilient,” my confidant announced. “It will just make him stronger,” she pronounced after I shared about a hard experience my son had endured.
While practicing self-confidence, flexibility, patience, communication and teamwork may all be valuable none of us would wish these skills to be strengthened through adversity. In her book, The Power of Fun, Catherine Prince proposes that “true fun is restorative. It increases resilience and empathy.”
How wonderful to recognize that there are a myriad of ways to build our resource base for navigating life and thriving; simply muscling through trials is not the only way!
It is true that after some time of reading an engrossing book or talking with a friend over coffee (or via zoom), I tend to feel better. I’m more grounded and joyful. Experiences of fun, times of relaxation, a change of pace and perspective are all restorative. An evening walk around my farm, at hot shower, or ten-minutes of mindful stretching often help me get unstuck when ruminating on a problem or task.
After hearing the legend of the doorknob in Gerber family lore, our kids were delighted to play Scattergories to more fully understand the inside joke. Between their creative (and ridiculous) responses, which are alternative to a given category in this word game, and my daughter’s startle and screech each time the timer buzzed, we had plenty of belly laughs around the table that evening. And we all slept well that night.
When do you feel most restored? What practices and activities bring you great joy? How can you incorporate more of that into your daily life as a move towards sustainability and thriving?
O God, in the places where I am feeling stretched, weary and empty, may you bring renewal. Tune my heart to the ways that play and joy also heal and restore. Amen
Some Comfort and Joy was developed as a devotional resource that follows the rhythms and seasons of the liturgical year from an Anabaptist-Mennonite perspective.
We hope this brings you some comfort and joy. Do you know someone who would be inspired by today’s post? Please share Some Comfort and Joy with them! Be sure to subscribe and never miss a post.
some comfort and joy 