
6) This life is not about me and my goals and my wants and my worries. Nothing about my life is about me; it’s about who He needs me to be.
7) I really think we find what we are meant to do when we stop focusing on what we are kept from doing.
8) I’ve come to understand that the only thing I can control is whether or not I open my heart. Open it to embrace my circumstances. Open it to be who He needs me to be in the here and now rather than assume happiness can come from the “If only…” and “When I get…” Open it enough to let Him in to change me here so I can be with Him there.
9) This disease has taken things from me, but it can’t take away the spirit that God put inside of me, the core of who I am as long as I choose to nurture that side of myself.
10) If this is my life, if this is where I am, then this is where God is, too.
Whoa. That last one just took my breath away. May that be the joyful, thankful prayer I start my day with each morning!

Though Sara has been gone more than four years, she continues to bless us. Sara’s words on choosing joy through chronic pain and terminal illness were lovingly compiled into a truly wonderful, soul-soothing book by her friend Mary Carver. It is called, of course, Choose Joy.

This book has been kicking my butt in the best way—giving me a perspective on where my happiness and joy REALLY come from, and helping me see God’s hand in all the day-to-day trials of life this side of heaven. I am truly learning to “count it ALL joy,” and I am so thankful to have learned about Sara’s brief, joyful life. Her joy will stick with me forever.
You guys, Choose Joy is on sale for $2.99 on Kindle right now! I don’t get anything from the sale, I just love this book and want to spread the Choose Joy love to others. You can grab it on sale here: http://bit.ly/choosejoybook.