A Journal of Joy: Things that make my heart smile…
By Barbara Dahlgren
How I admire people who are cheerful in the morning! They irritate me, but I admire them.
One year my writer’s conference roommate was amazing! It didn’t matter what time we went to bed, she got up each morning dedicated to getting at least an hour of prayer and another hour of Bible study done before starting her day. Four or five or six o’clock! It didn’t matter. I’ve gotten to know this woman fairly well and this is still her normal routine. She’s very consistent – no matter where she is in the world, no matter what her daily schedule holds, no matter what! She’s truly an extraordinary person whom I admire greatly. I almost felt guilty telling her not to worry about the light shining in my eyes when she got up – I could sleep through anything.
Yet, I’m still a firm believer in starting my day with God even when I have difficulty rolling out of bed. My spirit is willing, but my flesh truly is weak (Matthew 26:40). So I don’t wait until I get up each morning to acknowledge God. I do it first thing when I wake up – even while I’m still in bed. I say, “Thank You, Lord, for a brand new day.” It’s amazing what that quick little prayer can do to make me mindful of God’s daily presence in my life.
Sometimes I add, “And thank You for that great night’s sleep!” If I don’t sleep too well, I might say, “I didn’t sleep well last night, Lord, so I’m going to need a little help to make it through the day.”
If I oversleep, I might say, “Wow! Look at the time. Thank You, Lord, for that extra sleep. Now please help me get moving and stay focused on You!”
I try to have the philosophy of my favorite cartoon character Maxine who says, “Any day on this side of the flower bed is a pretty good day.”
Each day is one the Lord has made and we are told to rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). That means every day is a brand new gift from God. Each new day is full of opportunities and possibilities. It’s another chance to hold loved ones near, to enjoy creation, to praise and worship God. And we are encouraged to rejoice and be glad IN it – not in spite of it or after it’s over – but IN it!
What a joy to go through each day with God! Starting the morning by acknowledging Him is a little gift I give myself that sets the tone for the day. It helps me focus on the spiritual, not the physical.
There’s no denying that some days are good and some are not so good, but God is with me through them all. I don’t want to rob myself of appreciating today by living in regret of yesterday and fear of tomorrow. Let’s face it – yesterday is gone and there is no guarantee for tomorrow. Today is all I have, so I better make the most of it.
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My Heavenly Father, what a comfort to know I never have to go through a day alone. You are always with me. Saying hello to You each morning reminds me of that. Some days are harder than others. That’s when I need to feel Your presence so I can make it through. And please help me not to take the good days for granted because they are a blessing from You.
