Celebrate while you can

Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “A season of celebration”

Our Bible verse for today: “This is the day the Lord has made; I will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Celebrate while you can”

This morning, I want to continue our thinking from yesterday about living in the moment and celebrating the good things and the little victories that make up each day.

I once read a story about a man whose wife died suddenly and unexpectedly. Weeks after the funeral he was sorting through her things and he came across a fancy box that was still in the store bag. He opened it to find an attractive and expensive piece of clothing his wife had purchased. She had been saving it to wear for him on a special occasion. Sadly, that special occasion never arrived and the special outfit was never worn. With that realization, a wave of sadness, loss, and regret washed over him. He thought to himself, “Why do we delay doing the special things? Why don’t we do them while we still have the chance?”

Aimee and I had a similar encounter a few days ago. We were visiting an older couple who are in their 80s. The wife is currently in a rehab center recovering from a broken hip. She is trying to regain enough strength and mobility to go home but at her age, recovery and rehabilitation is a real struggle. At one point in the conversation the husband said to Aimee, “Take advantage of your healthy years while you have them. Do the things you want to do; do them now while you can.”

Far too many of us are waiting for some distant tomorrow before we do this or that; or before we celebrate some special occasion; or before we go to some special place. But tomorrow may never come. Don’t keep putting off special things for another time if you could do them now.

I don’t mean to suggest that we should impulsively do everything today and never put anything off for another time. We celebrate birthdays on the person’s birthday. We plan vacations in advance and then we wait until the appropriate date arrives. We retire when we’re eligible to retire but until then we work. Also, learning the discipline of delayed gratification is a good thing. So, some things should be put off until the appropriate time.

However, it really is true that, “Yesterday is but a memory and tomorrow is but a hope; today is all we really have”. The Psalmist said, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Let us celebrate now; do the special thing now; take advantage of the gift of today.

Yes, the Lord made all our yesterdays and if there are going to be any tomorrows for us, He will be the Creator and Lord of those days too. But today is what we have right now. So, let’s be glad; let’s rejoice; and let’s enjoy it. Celebrate while you can.

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you are reading in these daily devotionals and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville

Share this:

Related

Leave a comment Cancel reply