“The Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome one.”  Jeremiah 20:11  

“I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judges me faithful.”  1 Timothy 1:12

I recently read the back of a T-shirt:  “A good day for a good day”.  Of course!  It was a beautiful day and I was feeling good.  Of course!  It could never be a bad day for a good day, or a good day for a bad day.  Every day is a good day for good … for war to end; for people to have homes, enough to eat, clean water; to find a job; to be pain-free; to feel like getting out of bed.  A good day for all that … but it might not happen that way.  What then? 

I remember visiting a church friend in declining health.  Sharing time with him was a gift to me.  I ‘m sure he had days that weren’t “good”.  I’m sure he realized he was no longer young.  But he seemed happy to sit outside; enjoyed hymn sings, any singing.  A favorite song was Patsy Cline’s song “One Day at a Time”:  “Lord, give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.”  The day of my last visit all he had to do was “wait”, with God giving him the strength to “wait” peacefully, quietly confident in God’s grace.  

Someday I won’t wake up pain-free; might not feel like getting out of bed; will be “waiting”.  What then?   I don’t feel God will strengthen me because I am judged faithful.  I will fail a “faith checklist”.  Rather, I will be deemed faithful because Jesus Christ has redeemed me.  The Holy Spirit strengthens me to do God’s will for me.  Such support is a “good day” each and every day.      

Mighty God, Stay with me.  Help me use my good days to do good for others.  When I can no longer “do”, grant me comfort and peace, trusting your awesome grace.  Amen  

Verla Olson                     

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