The Joy in Each New Day
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we might
gain a heart of wisdom.”
After
reading the above verse from Psalm 90, a prayer attributed to Moses “the man of
God,” I decided to figure out approximately how many days had already gone by
in my life, and from that point on to keep a record in my journal.
As I looked back at previous entries last
week, I discovered an error that was made in December 2024. Instead of 28,230
days, I had written 228,230 and continued on from there! That mistake made me
more than 500 years older than I am now!
In
500 years, I hope to be worshipping at the foot of God’s throne in heaven,
along with the throngs of people who have put their trust in Him! In the
meantime, however, there are the challenges each new day presents, along with plenty
of opportunities to gain wisdom.
Perhaps wisdom comes from slowing down and
thinking about what I am doing instead of being preoccupied. Maybe gaining
wisdom means thinking of each day as a special gift, finding hope in the Lord rather
than focusing on my physical limitations and burdens.
When
asked how he managed to get through four kinds of cancer, chemotherapy and
radiation, sports commentator Dick Vitale replied, “Stay positive, have faith
and never give up, never give up, never give up!”
The
apostle Paul prayed that God would grant us hope: “May the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope
by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)
As I number each day, my heart is filled with
joy and a sense of gratitude to my God who gives me hope! Even grocery shopping
on a freezing winter afternoon can be special!
On our last visit to the supermarket, a young
man with a disability was standing near the entrance and exit doors, greeting
people as they came in the store and wishing them a good day as they left. He
stood with his head down, looking at the floor and speaking in a monotone.
When we entered the store, I responded to his
“Welcome” with “Good morning!” He looked up.
“It’s
not morning!” he said, correcting me.
“Oh,
you’re sharp! Good afternoon!”
Bobby
waved and unexpectedly said, “God bless you!”
After
a brief conversation, we went on our way. His thinking of us was indeed a
blessing!
When
leaving the store, we passed the same young man who was standing in front of
the exit door. I told him goodbye; and Al said, “Buenas tardes!”
He
looked up. “What?”
“Good
afternoon!” Al explained.
His responsive smile was a beautiful sight!
Well,
positive interactions with people are huge in my ‘making the day special’
book! Whether to children, youth,
adults, strangers or friends…not a day goes by without the opportunity of
showing kindness and gratitude. Great joy is gained as a result.
We
can count the number of our days up to the present; however, none of us knows what
the final count will be! Surely things will get more challenging as we age.
Most likely there will be more pain, suffering and sorrow, more funerals to
attend for those we love.
Even
now there are days when I still feel overwhelmed by the shock of losing a
beloved friend to suicide in 2023, or deep sorrow from the loss of my
step-daughter to cancer a few months later, or sadness sparked by memories of other
sweet family members and friends who have passed away… There are many people
whose absence have left an empty space in my life and heart.
Yet
I don’t have to face the challenges alone. The Lord has promised that He would always
be with me, as He is with each of His children. We can depend on that promise
and the hope of eternal life through faith in Christ, as we look for the joy in
each new day!
“Yet
this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord’s great love
we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every
morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, ‘The Lord is my portion;’
therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3:21-24
NIV)
*Psalm
90:12 NIV
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