“This is the day that the Lord has made;
\nlet us rejoice and be glad in it.”
\nPsalm 118:24<\/p>\n
We all know that Bible verse even if we don\u2019t know that it is from The Book of Psalms. There even is a children\u2019s song which uses the verse as a refrain.\u00a0 But do we follow its advice?\u00a0 Do we rejoice in every day that God has given us?<\/p>\n
I am embarrassed to say that I don\u2019t always do that. I easily can spend time during my day mulling over the past or fretting about the future.\u00a0 But that isn\u2019t how we are called to live.\u00a0 We are called to appreciate today –<\/em> by itself.<\/p>\n There is wisdom in that approach. If we can neither change the past nor control the future, then it is pointless to give a lot of mental energy to either.\u00a0 The only thing that we can do is to make today count.<\/p>\n How do we make each day count? One way is to work hard.\u00a0 Our self-esteem is boosted when we work.\u00a0 It doesn\u2019t matter what the work is, frankly.\u00a0 Whether you are a waitress, a teacher, a day laborer, or the President of the United States, having worked hard at something (anything!) feels good.\u00a0 God made us to accomplish things.<\/p>\n We also make our day count when we make someone else\u2019s life easier. Part of being a decent human being is being helpful.\u00a0 That means that we don\u2019t sit on the couch when other people are cleaning up the kitchen or are working in the yard.\u00a0 That means that if you see an elderly person struggling to carry their groceries, you help them.\u00a0 It is about being on constant alert for how you can help others.\u00a0 Ironically being helpful is a trait that we don\u2019t applaud nearly enough.\u00a0 Yet it is one of the most important character traits that one can have.<\/p>\n Making this day count also means not allowing the behavior of others to turn a good day into a bad day. Sadly, there are some people who think that their bad mood should be everyone else\u2019s problem.\u00a0 We all know people like that.\u00a0 You can\u2019t avoid them.\u00a0 They seek attention with confrontational or immature behavior.\u00a0 You have to decide as soon as you get up in the morning that you aren\u2019t going to give other people the power to ruin your day.\u00a0 Sometimes, you have to be willing to ignore people in order to keep your peace.\u00a0 It is a hard thing to do.\u00a0 However, we are not obliged to pander to difficult people.\u00a0 Our obligation is to protect the day that God has blessed us with.<\/p>\n Most importantly, making this day count involves spending time with God. That is the easiest thing to forget, but it is the most important thing to do.\u00a0 We all do this differently.\u00a0 Some of us pray.\u00a0 Others are in constant conversation with God throughout the day.\u00a0 Then there are those of us who read and meditate in order to commune with God.\u00a0 There is no right approach.\u00a0 Any one of them will do.<\/p>\n At times, we all can take our days on this earth for granted. We can look at the day ahead just as something to get through rather than something to be glad about.\u00a0 But remember, every day is a gift from God.\u00a0 Every day we have to spend with those we love is truly a blessing.\u00a0 So make sure that you show God your appreciation by making each day count.<\/p>\n Look to this day, Sanskrit Proverb<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 We all know that Bible verse even if we don\u2019t know that it is from The Book of Psalms. There even is a children\u2019s song which uses the verse as a refrain.\u00a0 But do we follow…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":593,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nThe very life of life,
\nIn its brief course lies all,
\nThe realities and verities of existence,
\nThe bliss of growth,
\nThe splendor of action,
\nThe glory of power.
\nFor yesterday is but a dream,
\nAnd tomorrow is only a vision.
\nBut today well lived,
\nMakes every yesterday
\nA dream of happiness
\nAnd every tomorrow
\nA vision of hope.
\nLook well, therefore,
\nTo this day.<\/p>\n