I think you could say that my face is exuding joy in this picture! This was perhaps my favorite talk yet as I spent the last year steeping myself in joy literature. So much thought and prayer went into this plenary – Joy: Mainstay of a Living Education. Listen for the joy testimonies from dear friends that I share. Pause the recording to do the picture study. I really want to share this message with you and so I am making the audio available for free below. Please take a listen and let me know what you think.
Sharing the message of joy to so many parents, young and old, was part of the Living Education Retreat this year. It seemed every speaker was in tune with this theme. I hope it brings you joy and that your definition of joy is expanded, particularly by your understanding of the science of relations.
Charlotte Mason said that “joy reigns in all our schoolrooms.” Do our homes reflect this joy or do we sabotage its presence, making our homes joyless? Joy was such an important principle of a living education that a PNEU conference in 1908 had joy as its theme! Let’s explore what Charlotte Mason said about joy and how the joy of knowledge and the joy of living through the science of relations can open the floodgates of joy from the ultimate source, Christ the joy-giver.
You can listen to the audio below from my opening conversazione at the 2022 Living Education Retreat on Lake Koronis, MN.
Warmly,
Nancy
Nancy…thank you for giving your self & your time & your way with words towards that which matters & the only things that will last–Scripture & Souls. I know the Lord directed me to take time to click this email notice open, to scroll through the description of your conversazione for LER, to make myself grab my notebook, click play & be still & fully attentive (amidst distractions) to all you had to share. For the past few weeks, I have been searching the emotions & struggles of my head & heart…reeling with the need to be productive but stopped short by physical injuries or mental blocks…last week I finally put to words in my morning journaling a potential root to my “troubles” of heart & mind–a lack of JOY. There is more I could share on where I have found myself these past few days–and I’m sure more that will come of reflecting back on these notes…but what I wanted to leave here was how timely & truth saying your talk was for me…for my whole self, for my relationships as wife, mother, friend, for my encounters with the WORD & this created World & the Creator…the quotes you shared, the points you used directing us to Scripture…this JOY-full servanthood of being in Christ we get to experience in the “already & not yet”–that we abide in Him, that His Words abide in us, that we keep His commandments & abide in His love…that His JOY may be in us & our JOY may be full (John 15). He is gentle yet direct–Shepherding us through each moment…that we would look up, look to the JOY author & JOY giver–for our good & for His Glory Alone!
Thank you so much, Sara, for sharing your heartfelt thoughts. You encourage me! I am so glad that my words directed you back to Christ, the true Joy-giver!
What a beautiful presentation! It brought joy to me as I listened and remembered the times I was able to attend LER. Amen and amen, I’ve been learning that we gain wisdom through suffering if we are able to walk through it with the right heart— perhaps that’s a joyful one?! Or perhaps we gain the joy as well as the wisdom??… hmm, things to ponder. I’ve also been learning about loving with open hands. Thank you for allowing those that weren’t in attendance the joy of learning alongside you all. Many blessings!
Thank you for your comments, Stacie! I think we do gain joy and wisdom – both – if our hearts are in the right posture. Many blessings to you, too!
Listening and realizing how I did want to see you in person! ❤️
You were missed, Veta! Maybe next year if the Lord wills!
Warmly,
Nancy
Thank you Nancy for this rich and edifying talk. Very timely for me as the word Joy has been on my mind for the last month or so. Thank you for the book recommendations!
And thank you for your kind words, Amanda! I’m glad you found it edifying.
Warmly,
Nancy
Thank you for sharing Nancy! It is not in my usual routine to open email so early in the morning. A quick glance at your post and I decided to use this precious quiet time to listen. What a joyful start to the day! Thank you for the inspiration and redirection.
You’re welcome, Kimberly! I’m glad it encouraged you. See you soon!
You truly are exuding joy in this picture, Nancy. It is a perfect encapsulation of the wondrous nature of this talk. So grateful to have heard it at this year’s LER!
Thank you, friend! And I can’t wait to share your insightful talk on The Thoughtful Citizen soon. Thank YOU for being part of the LER again this year.