I was first introduced to the concept of eucharisteo when I was about 18 or so. I think I came across it in a blog post or online article of some sort, but I'm not sure where exactly. Most likely, it was something by Ann Voskamp, but I'm not certain. What I remember is immediately feeling challenged, encouraged, and inspired by the idea of living a life around the concept. Since then, I've studied it, meditated on it, started (but never actually finished) the Ann Voskamp book about it, and now I've tattooed it on my body. 

Eucharisteo is the greek word for thanksgiving. Within it, is the greek word charis, meaning grace, and it's root word chara, which means joy. I love that this one word encapsulates all three concepts of thanksgiving, grace, and joy. I also love that Jesus himself spoke it. Luke 22 says that when in the upper room with His disciples, he took the bread, he eucharisteo (or gave thanks), he broke it, and he gave it to them saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." (This is where the catholic church gets the word eucharist.) 

To me, this word means that the root of true joy is found in having thanksgiving for the grace we've been given in Christ. 

A life of eucharisteo is a life lived with an attitude of gratitude, full of gracious communication, and a constant pursuit of true joy in Christ. Having eucharisteo tattooed on my wrist is my constant ministry to myself and to others around me. It is my overarching life goal and my resolution in 2017 to live a life of eucharisteo. I'll let you know how it goes!

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Robby and I had our weekly date night last week and chose to go to dinner and a movie, thanks to the gift cards we received to AMC and to Chili's from our sweet families! Since Robby chose our last movie, Star Wars, I got this next pick. I thought about choosing Star Wars again (it was just SO freaking good!), but instead I opted for the movie Joy starring Jennifer Lawrence, Robert de Niro, and Bradley Cooper. 

Joy did not disappoint. I am a fan of obscure, independent, and independent-like movies - especially those that are about love, hardships, family, heartbreak, and challenging journeys. I go weak in the knees for Like Crazy, Short Term 12, Away We Go, and Ruby Sparks. Not to mention, I love Silver Lining's Playbook and American Hustle, both also directed by David O. Russell, who directed Joy. 

This movie was the story of Joy Mangano, a woman who faced serious challenges before becoming an accomplished and well-respected inventor. It was a picture of her life, her family, her grit, and her determination as she defied expectations set before her and became a proud success. 

Joy, played by Lawrence, was crushed as a girl by the divorce of her parents, weighed down by the care-giving roles she played for each of her family members, and worked herself to the bones in order to make ends meet. She was smart and successful growing up and in school, but set her dreams to the side in order to take care of everything and everyone around her. Finally, she had enough, and decided it was her time to make something of herself that she could be proud of and went on a long journey to become a success. 

It was easy to see parts of myself in Joy, and to be inspired by her attitude and accomplishments. I walked away from the movie wanting to move mountains. As a young, married 20-something whose husband is now in the Army, it's easy to set aside the goals I've been dreaming up since I was a girl in order to make our life work right now. It's easy to say, "I don't have time to take this class, spend this hour writing, volunteer with this organization, fill out this application to speak at this conference." It's easy to think "I'll do that when Robby's gone, when Robby's back, after we move here or there." It's easy to get caught up in the daily mundane tasks and become completely exhausted doing so. 

Truly, there has to be a balance. You have to do what you have to do, but you can't forget to grow. You can't forget to use what you've been given. You can't forget to achieve your goals. 

Small steps of procrastination for one reason or the other makes it easy to give up on your dreams and talents and passions and goals. But I'm in a season of flexibility right now. I'm not working, Robby will be leaving in a month for BCT, I'll be moving in April... What better time than now to cultivate my crafts and sharpen my skills?

Every day my desires change. Today I want to be a writer, an inventor, a speaker, a photographer, blogger, curator, a minimalist, a poet, and a maker of beautiful things. Today, I'm going to work on that.