Can't Steal My Joy

: It's all about the heart change

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Community or bust

It’s quiet in my house. As always, my thoughts are running a million miles a minute. I’m thinking about Titus, always Titus, and the rest of my family. About the hope I dare to have for a future for Ely while in my mind I’m terrified of the results we could find once he is tested. I’m thinking about the thousands who are supporting us. I’m thinking about the things I am learning about God that are just at the tip of my reach, like I know what it is I’m learning, yet it is still so profound and mysterious. And then my mind begins to shape this conversation… with Satan. It goes something like this:

ME: “You think you’ve got this don’t you. You think you’ve got me down. I’ll tell you what… it’s been a valiant effort. And I’m broken, that’s for sure. I’m scared. I’m angry. But that doesn’t equal out to being yours. Because I’ll tell you what, Satan… you have to understand. I’m just the front lines in this story with a HUGE army behind me. When I go down, I will be pulled from that carnage and I will be carried away from it. I will be cared for. I will be loved on. You have to take down my neighbor who stands by us and supports us in the daily grind. You have to take down the friends who have felt loss and difficult parenting themselves and have chosen to support us and each other. You have to take down the thousands who are praying for strength and peace and joy and healing. You have to take down those who have chosen to support us through cards, money and hugs. You have to take down the first grade class who made cards to encourage our son. You have to take down a family who loves each other and stands by each other through the thick and the thin. You have to take down moms (yeah, those are the worst ones) who intercede on our behalf with a heart full of mommy love. And you wonder why I’m so strong… why I don’t just fall. Because God has used my community to reinforce what I already know; that He loves us and we are not alone. And I will do the very same for anyone else who finds themselves battling on the frontlines in their story. Satan, you need to know… you can’t steal my joy.”

God has made something abundantly clear to me. We aren’t doing this alone. I would fully understand if someone heard my story and excused themselves to exit our lives. It’s difficult. It’s sad. It doesn’t have a happy earthly ending. But people aren’t doing that. They are joining us. We are getting cards daily reminding us that there are others praying for us, hurting with us, encouraging us. Life has been overwhelming, but as people have offered to go grocery shopping, make us meals, watch the boys, and just sit and listen when I need to cry or talk through things, it all has felt impossibly manageable. It’s so weird… I have this unexplained joy in our daily moments. I mean, really, what business do I have being joyful?

But…

If you could’ve opened a window up into my world this past week, you would’ve found myself and the boys driving home from a VBS meeting singing, “I love balloons, I love, I love balloons…” (If you know the tune to that song, I’m sorry… it is now stuck in your head.) My boys were laughing and giggling and I was acting like a crazy mom and it was joyful. 

You would’ve seen our boys give each other the best (and apparently the funniest, by the way they were laughing) hugs and kisses at bedtime.

You would’ve found a boy excited to go to school and teachers who hugged him and welcomed him back and told me his smile and laugh brightens their day.

You would’ve seen us walking Titus’s dog, Sunny, and breathing in the fresh air while helping Titus keep his strength and letting Ely run his energy out.

These are the moments I cling to. Because we have other moments. Moments of panic when Titus starts seizing. Moments of fits because he can’t communicate like he used to and no one understands. Moments of tube cleanings and diaper changes on both my boys. Moments of no sleep at night and pain that I can’t ease. Moments of guilt as I try to continue to parent both my children while one requires the majority of my time. Moments of failure as I give up things I never thought God would ask me to give up because I simply can’t do it all.

Let me be abundantly clear. I couldn’t see above the muck we are in if it weren’t for you. Yes, you. You all are my community. Every card, every hug, every financial gift, material gift, every gift of time, every cup of coffee, every listening ear, every text and phone call, every facebook “like” and comment, and every single prayer is carrying us through.

I’ve gotta say this, being so buried under the ugly imperfections this world dishes out to us has in turn, made even more clear the beauty of God. The contrast is starkly drastic. I didn’t notice it before like I do now. When I’m comfortable, I’m not looking for it. But now I LIVE for it. I NEED it. I need his goodness, his beauty in the ugly when there is no other way to survive.

His beauty is seen in all of you as God weaves our stories together and uses us to build each other up. God has wired us to need each other and to support each other. I have not once felt alone in this journey. I have not once felt abandoned.

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On the train at Disneyland! Yellow for Titus! He had a great time!
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Murphy side of the family!
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My boys… I have no words, just love!
Titus in his new stroller that was given to us by a generous family who also gets the daily grind of this life.
Titus in his new stroller that was given to us by a generous family who also gets the daily grind of this life.

Don’t miss out on the incredible community God desires for you. We all need it.

Thanks for listening…

Bekah

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Comments

  1. Ashley Wornell says

    April 29, 2015 at 12:15 pm

    the joy community brings…

    Reply
  2. Tina Henderson says

    April 29, 2015 at 3:35 am

    Bekah,
    Uncle Frank and I are praying for you, Danny, Eli and Titus daily. You are a mother of deep faith and incredible wisdom! Thank you for sharing your heart! Your words inspire me to live in each moment and not take the blessing of each day and each minute for granted! It can be so easy to get wrapped up in other things and I could easily forget to see the blessing of each day and each moment.
    Aunt Tina

    Reply
  3. Kari Shone says

    April 28, 2015 at 10:30 pm

    You have a gift for writing. Very blessed by your posts. Praying for you guys daily.

    Reply
  4. Aunt Boof says

    April 28, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    Tears…lots of tears!

    And laughs. You know why? Because I love balloons. I love, I LOVE balloons!

    And, I love you!

    Reply
  5. Greg DeField says

    April 28, 2015 at 1:27 am

    Wow Bekah! What an encouragement you are! All I can say is … AMEN! I hope you have some good times with Kristi and Mary!!

    Reply
  6. Dan Jones says

    April 28, 2015 at 12:06 am

    Bekah, love you! God is blessing you in the middle of this unthinkable circumstance with his presence, and the ultimate hope of his faithfulness. You are living out a truth that eludes the smartest people, a truth of the heart that comes out of the nature of God himself. We can have joy in suffering, James has it right, and in your pain and sorrow and suffering you are blessing many who are seeing God more clearly because of your walking through this. Uncle Dan

    Reply
    • Cindy says

      April 28, 2015 at 3:42 am

      Dan is so right… You are an amazing woman of God, Bekah.
      Love you so much,
      Mama

      Reply
  7. Donna Runyon says

    April 27, 2015 at 9:44 pm

    Bekah, you are a gifted….no, very gifted writer, and your perspective, heart and strength are an encouragement to everyone. Please let us know if there is anything the Runyon Family can do to help. Privileged to know you!

    Reply
  8. Heather Day says

    April 27, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    Bekah, I can’t even begin to tell you how much our hearts ache for you. And yet you continue to encourage me with your honesty and faith. We pray for you lots and lots! Just last night, I prayed a quick thanks for dinner and after I finished, Jackson piped up “and Titus Bowman!” So we stopped and prayed for you all again. Besides all of us adults, you’ve got lots of kids praying earnestly for you!

    Reply
  9. Jalene Wells says

    April 27, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    You are so wise beyond your years and an inspiration to me. God has gifted you with the gift of expression in writing and have blessed me and spured me on to be a stronger prayer warrior for you and Danny and Titus and Ely and in general!
    May Gods peace cont to wrap you all in Love

    Reply
  10. Stacy Wells says

    April 27, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    I’m so blessed that God intertwined our lives when He did! This article is so spot on, Bekah! Thankful for community! I continue to pray for and love your family!

    Reply
  11. Mary Holder says

    April 27, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    What an encouraging yet heartbreaking post. I can’t tell you how many times our church, choir, and Sunday School class have lifted your family in prayer. We all hurt for you and pray that God will be everything you need during these difficult days. It’s wonderful to hear you have found support in your new home area. May you all be surrounded with love and peace.

    Reply
  12. Natalie Monk says

    April 27, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    Your strength never ceases to amaze me! My thoughts and prayers are with you always! I wish there was more I could do, but I know God is with you!

    Reply
  13. amy parker says

    April 27, 2015 at 6:25 pm

    Your amazing Becca! We love you and your beautiful family. Praying for your sweet lil man!!

    Reply
  14. aaronagregory says

    April 27, 2015 at 5:46 pm

    Reblogged this on aaronagregory and commented:
    Bekah is a friend, former co-worker, and pastor who is sharing the joys and struggles of parenting a child who has been diagnosed with a heart-breaking disease. She writes posts that share her heartache and how she is journeying through these tough days. Feel free to read her story and pray for the Bowman Family.

    Reply
  15. Joanne Bates says

    April 27, 2015 at 5:20 pm

    Sitting here with tears and thankfulness for the strength God is giving you. I can relate to the joy in tough times because I’ve had it.

    Reply
  16. Kendra Anderson says

    April 27, 2015 at 3:47 pm

    Bekah, you, and your family, are so beautiful and such an inspiration! I’m praying and hoping with you all. Thank you for reminding me where the Joy comes from!! We love you, Danny and your precious boys!!

    Reply

Trackbacks

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