THE LITTLE THINGS

This is the day that Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24

What do we have to be glad about in these difficult times of natural disaster, global war, and domestic division? These days can bring both joy and despair, clarity and confusion. And yet, God asks us to rejoice and be glad in each new day. And maybe if we start there, we can focus on the little things like the beauty of nature, the way the ocean mirrors the sky, the mountains, the warmth of the sunshine, a smile, a hug, or the unique beauty of each new sunrise and sunset.

This is the day that Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! This verse from Psalm 118 stuck with me since I shared it several years ago with a faithful 94 year old woman in hospice care. I was prepared to read Psalm 23 to her, but her Bible was ready with Psalm 118 underlined for this moment. She spoke in a whisper and knew she was about to meet the Lord. She knew what she needed to hear. This is the day that Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Those are God’s words we need to hear, too.

Psalm 118 says in life and death, in joy and sorrow, give thanks to the Lord. Be thankful for each new day. Each little thing that might bring a small measure of comfort or peace. Near the end of her life, this beautiful soul wanted to give thanks. When I read Psalm 118, she gingerly lifted her fist in a victory pump! It was so beautiful because her faith made it real to me in that little gesture that each day the Lord makes is a gift to us. Our faith can enable us to rejoice and be glad in that simple fact no matter what. In difficult days, we need a reason to be glad. And God gives us one each new day. Let’s remind each other of that in the days ahead.

It's the little things,Pastor Andrea