Finding Your Joy - Reassigning Your Treasure

Finding Your Joy - Reassigning Your Treasure

I AM A PERSON of joy, and some people think it’s because I live a perfect life. Ha! Nothing could be further from the truth. But I have discovered a secret that is the source of my joy: I have reassigned my treasure.

My family, probably like yours, is far from ideal. In addition to a wonderful husband and an awesome daughter and son-in-law, our son, Scott, was a non-functioning drug addict for a number of years.

As a matter of fact, when I first wrote this Truth Nugget to my girlfriends, he was missing. Again. We had not heard from Scott in over three years. Could it have possibly been worse? Yes. His drug of choice is methamphetamine. Heartbreaking doesn’t even begin to describe what a mother goes through when she knows her baby (yes, at twenty-six, he was still my baby) is in a desperate situation, most likely sleeping on the streets (again), and unable to find his way. My precious little redheaded boy who loved to laugh and play and snuggle was now standing uncomfortably close to the threshold of death.

What mother ever envisions dealing with missing persons officials and calling the morgue on a monthly basis? I sure didn’t. You see, we did everything “right.” We went to church on Sundays, ate dinner around the table as a family every night, attended soccer games and band competitions. How could this possibly be happening to us? Sometimes I felt like I was playing a part in a bad made-for-TV movie. Whenever the phone would ring—I expected it to be him. I literally held my breath hoping that my one-time saxophone-playing, lovable, huggable, honor-student kid would say, “Hey, Mom! What’s up?”

I share my story with you because, like many mothers, my treasure was my children. For many years, I drew my identity, creativity, and self-worth from my children’s well-being. My dream of raising healthy, happy children was my energy source. But I’ve learned through this journey that this doesn’t work; I can’t commit my sanity, or insanity, to my children. My joy must come from knowing that God’s agenda is greater than my own. Thus, I reassigned him to be my treasure by placing my trust in his promise of grace and mercy. Once I shifted my focus from me to him, I realized I could be joyful and strong regardless of this heartbreaking situation. Though darkness had taken my son, I absolutely refused to relinquish my joy to it.

So, what is your treasure? Your home? Your spouse? The quest for money or more stuff? Your children’s success? Your position in your church or community? Be careful; it may make finding joy an impossible task.

Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be. (Matthew 6:21)

Of course, reassigning your treasure may not be easy. My only helpful tip: it’s easier to let go of something once you recognize it wasn’t yours in the first place.