I flinched when I heard it, and the phrase kept playing in my brain: “Typical Monday!” A strange sadness came over me as I realized how often I’ve also mistakenly deemed days—the precious time we are given by God to walk this planet—as “typical.”
Since I’m a word person, I looked up typical and my suspicions were confirmed: commonplace, natural, average, expected, ordinary, regular.
How could a day--a gift from God--be described using any of those words when we know these truths?
- God has good works planned for us to do (Ephesians 2:10).
- God is working in our days to bring about good (Romans 8:28).
- God gives us access to resurrection power (Ephesians 1:19, 20).
- God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond all we ask, hope, or imagine by His power at work in us (Ephesians 3:20).
- God sent Jesus to give us abundant life (John 10:10).
My sister, Judy, recognizes the extraordinary in her days, even as she is walking through a long and extremely challenging season with her husband who has advancing dementia. Many of her days have a "sameness," and I'm sure there's more stress and discouragement than I know. Yet when I talked to her recently she was grateful that Carroll had a good day when his youngest great-grandchild and family visited. She counted it as a gift because the next day he was unable to eat and the day after he could barely rouse from sleep.
Teach us to number our days
and recognize how few they are;
help us to spend them as we should. Psalm 90:12 (TLB)
Oh, Kim, I so agree and what a sweet reminder. Being a word person and one who really sometimes also gets caught by surprise at their power and immensity. Our Lord, being the Word is one that I remind myself often, and ponder. Sometimes we lose perspective and it is so good to know we can pause, consider and adjust, as long as we ourselves have breath. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteDawn, thank you for your kind and encouraging words. I often write about the things that I myself need to focus on, and this is another example of that....I SO want to glorify God in the minutes, even seconds, of my life, and to be continually awake and aware of his goodness! Thank you for reading and commenting, Dawn.
DeleteThis was a beautiful reminder this morning. For me it so went along with a line from "Jesus Calling" (which I both tweeted & put on FB because it so spoke to my heart): "The One who walks beside you, holding your hand, is the same One who lives within you." That is such an unfathomable mystery yet one we experience every day. May we not miss today what He puts in our lives. I visited from Wed. Prayer Girls this morning.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Joanne
Joanne, thank you so much for reading and commenting...and "getting it!" :) Yes, such an unfathomable mystery! May we all grow in our awareness and appreciation of such a Savior!!
DeleteGood words Kim! Judy is a saint!
ReplyDeleteAgreed! I admire my sis more than words can say....and I'm sure I don't know the full story.... My respect for her faith and loyalty continues to grow. How blessed I am to have her for my sister AND sister in Christ!
DeleteGood words Kim! Judy is a saint!
ReplyDeleteStopping in from Monday Musings. Every day is an extra-ordinary gift from God, we only need to look to see this. I know that you and your family do. Blessings to you.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Kim....SUCH a gift to just get out of bed each morning. No matter our circumstances, just knowing that God is in charge, and we know the End of the Story! Thank you for reading and commenting!
DeleteWhat a lovely challenge to remember that every day is a GIFT from God and to keep our minds and hearts in the heavenly places. Thank you. Coming over from Beauty in His Grip link-up today. So glad I did!
ReplyDeleteThanks for dropping by, Kate! I agree that our days our GIFTS and I join you in recommitting to treating them as such! God bless you abundantly today, this "Present", this GIFT!
DeleteAmen! Every morning I (try to remember) to thank God for the new day and ask Him to help me use the day in a way that pleases Him. Some nights I have to ask for forgiveness when I fail but thankfully His mercies are new every morning!
ReplyDeleteYes, what a great promise that is: New Mercies Every Day! Thank you for reading and commenting, may God bless ALL the days of your precious LIFE!
DeleteGood thoughts here, and good reminder when we have "one of *those* days"! It's easy then to slide into grumbling. But even those days hold their unique gifts.
ReplyDeleteI like your phrase, "unique gifts." They are there, aren't they...waiting to be discovered! I pray, along with you, that we will be awake and aware to God's gifts, no matter what package in which they arrive...
DeleteSeeing your post just made me want to read it!! I will look at Mondays in a new light when there is so much to do after a full weekend. I will see it as a gift instead of just a day filled with too much work.
ReplyDeleteYes, Judith, perspective is everything, isn't it? Thank you for being such a consistent encourager in my life, even though we have never met in person! God bless ALL the days of your life!
Deleteevery 24 hours we are given is a “never-before, never-again” day
ReplyDeleteLove that line, Kim. And I would say that grateful hearts run in your family. Bless your sister.
Thank you, dear Gail. I do think our family has grateful tendencies :) and our Mom should be given all the credit for that. She could, and did, see good everywhere, and responded with gratitude. And of course you know that "Wow Dee Wow" was her signature phrase, and so that's why my blog carries that title.... I pray I can carry Mom's legacy of gratefulness all the days of my life!
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