Delicate Joy

From the liner notes... Nothing has made me more aware of the swift passage of time than watching my two children grow up before my eyes. It seems like not all that long ago, I was holding my newborn son in my arms, and yet here he is, eleven years old already and just moments away from becoming a teenager. My daughter Noelle, who makes me smile every single day, is eight now. If it were possible, she'd gladly choose to grow up even faster than her older brother! Life moves so quickly. Months pass like days, and years like weeks. I have become so aware of how very precious every single moment is that I have with my children. I make every effort to listen - really listen - to what they are saying and feeling. I watch and treasure every delightful thing they do. I do my best to teach them what a life of joy means, not only through my words but also by my example. When they grow old and think of me, I want them to remember laughter, love and what it truly means to be a child of God, trusting in Him. But Joy is a very delicate thing. It's so much easier to worry... to stress out about finances, health concerns, politics - all things that in the scheme of eternity don't really matter much. I have to constantly remind myself not to get overly caught up in such things. Joy, like Love, is more than a fluffy feeling, it's something you do. It's a decision you make and an action you take. Yes, life is sometimes difficult to navigate - especially when dealing with issues of health or grieving for the loss of the ones we love - but we often make it harder on ourselves than it needs to be. We carry the weight of the world on our shoulders and allow ourselves to be swallowed up too easily by our troubles. That steals away our joy. That's not what God, our creator, wants for us. He wants us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things. He wants us to focus on the eternal, on love, on relationships, both with Him and our fellow man. He wants us to rely on Him, to truly put our cares on His shoulders. Yes, it's easier said than done, but it is a noble and Godly pursuit. The music on A Delicate Joy is about living fully and joyfully. It's about freedom from worry, and about walking in faith, knowing God has all things in His hands. It's about love, family, and spending precious time together enjoying God's creation. It's about making the most of every single moment, because there isn't a moment to lose. Every moment matters. Life is a treasure to be enjoyed. Psalm 66, 81, 95, 98 and 100 all exhort us to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. This album is my joyful noise, or at least one part of it. It is my expression of gratitude for the great blessings God has given my family. I will not take them for granted, and I will not let the dark clouds I occasionally pass through in life take my joy away. Celebrate life, choose joy, and in doing so not only will you live in peace, you'll inspire those around you to live joyfully as well.