Every morning when the alarm sounds, I slowly turn to the left and view my wife. After greetings she slips out from under the covers and steps toward the window. She rises up on her tippy toes and spreads the blinds apart so she can see the sky through the palm trees in our front yard. I know she is looking for a certain color of light blue assuring her of a bright and sunny morning. If the color is there, I can hear the quiet release that sounds like a smiley face “ahhh.” I can be guaranteed a bit of spring in her step and a smile awaiting me when I get downstairs. However, if the blue is not there, the ahhh turns into almost and a “hmmm” and there just isn’t as much spring in her step. I never have to doubt her commitment to the day, I just know that when the blue is there a special song plays inside her heart.

I’m not sure if she rehearses “This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it,” (Psalm 118:24) or not as I can’t remember many days when she was grouchy.  With my 17 year head start on her I just count every day as a gift, despite what my body is telling me! I rejoice that the Lord has granted me another day to learn something. I am always intrigued when I walk out the door what will happen and what impact it will have on me. Even at this point in life, each day is a new challenge and an opportunity to bless or be blessed by someone. What is most amazing is how some people make you question that concept before you figure out where the hidden blessing is to be found. Each of you, will eventually experience a day that “You would not wish it on anyone, but would not trade for the world.” It’s funny how God works through adversity to build so much gratitude for what we have.

Kids, every day you are faced with thousands of choices. You will not be able to change the circumstances you find yourself in, but you will have an option as to how you view those circumstances. You can view them as blue skies and sunshine or you can allow them to change your attitude. You can be internally motivated, since the spirit of God lives in you, or you can be externally motivated by circumstances or people. Here is a secret to remember. God promises that you may ALWAYS have hope and joy. However, it like everything else Divinity provides, is a matter of choice. It depends on your free will. I know what it says in Ecclesiastes 3:4 but nowhere in the first 8 verses of that chapter will you find that God removes your hope and joy. Even at the time of his son’s death, David found hope knowing they would be reunited (2 Samuel 12:15 – 23). Remember that hope and joy are the differentiating factors between you and the remainder of the world. You have something they don’t – spiritual insight.

So take a lesson from your mom. Even if it’s not always a sunny day at Disney, you have a chance to grow and blossom in the “Sonlight” of your day. Every day is a gift. You are closer to perfection and completion. Think about life the way a salesman looks at a dry sales period: “All those no’s are getting you closer to a yes!” Remember Christ promised you a light burden. You are the only one who can choose to make it heavy!

Love Dad