WATCHWORD:
“I’ve told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father. John 15:11-15
“Happy are the people whose God is the LORD! Psalm 144:15
Meditation:
Happy? Joyful?
Time to clarify. The Bible isn’t interested in making people happy. Instead, the Bible focuses on joy. Happiness is something we feel because of our situation or circumstances. We are happy because something made us happy, but we are joyful because of something within us.
Somehow, happiness never seems to cross our minds when adversity knocks on our door, and yet…
Have you ever thought about this: Can adversity breed joy? How about mistakes? Errors? No? Let me ask this then, who is your worse critic? Who berates you for things you have done, are doing, and did even years ago? Who sticks its ugly head into the present moment of joy, and sours it? We do it to ourselves! Isn’t that the truth? We are our own worst critics, we steal our own joy, sometimes.
I once observed that there are some people who can’t ruin their lives fast enough! You could be the greatest hero in town, and hours later you hear the little guy with horns inside your head saying, ‘You could have done that better, or sooner, or gentler.’ We can manufacture guilt and regret out of the best of situations. I call these spoilers, spoilers of our happiness.
We are hard on ourselves, aren’t we? Our tendency is to look backwards. I coulda, shoulda done that differently, said something else or nothing at all, blah, blah. What a waste of time to sputter around with regrets. That can only lead to frustration, and all the related negative emotions, and there goes happiness, right out the window. And forget about joy.
So, in a fit of fear, or rightness, or feelings of hopelessness you come to your Lord and Savior with all of this smelly, seeping, disgusting baggage, and He says to you, ‘don’t be so hard on yourself’. You’re human, you’re going to mess up. That’s a byproduct of free choice, didn’t you know that? I told you that right there in My Book. You’ve read My Book, haven’t you? Did you see that place where your failures can be a source of blessing? You know, your scars can be lessons that give you one of the great graces that a human being can have, that of empathy, understanding and compassion. You can relate. You know, you’ve been there, you’ve done that. You know that silly saying, ‘I feel your pain’? Well, once through adversity, you can! You have been there. You are that friend that jumps into the pit with you because he knows the way out. That’s empathy, My Child.
Oh, and one other thing, I hate to mention this part, but I understand how thickheaded you are. Your failures, your goofs, and all those sources of your regrets, they all highlight your dependence on me, your Lord and Savior. You know that smelly, seeping, disgusting baggage you brought to me? There is beauty there if you trust me and have the patience to watch and see what I will do.
One of your brothers, Paul, made a pretty good statement when he said that we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love me. Keep that in mind, my child. God’s ‘good’, is what we call joyful. Keep that in mind, all you saints.
From the Poet Laureate, Mac McKinley:
She Sure Was a Grandma Good
One of the things I remember from long year’s afore
there never was a lock on Grandma’s door.
It was always open to one and all.
Most of the time you could find her a sitting and rockin,
awaiting the likes of you or me to call
and if we did,
She sure was a Grandma Good.
Now the smells that came emitting from her kitchen would almost be a sin,
if it weren’t for all the loving the cookin’ had within.
Beef and noodles, mashed taters, fresh green beans and more.
When you finished and you stood,
your tummy would cast a
shadow on the kitchen floor.
Then she would stand and open the oven door.
Out would come pourin’ cookies, cakes and pies galore.
Then you would find yourself a sayin,
huh I think I’ll sit down and have some more.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
People would save for her old clothes rags and such.
You know things you and I would consider muss and fluff.
She would take then and rip them into strips
and sew them end to end.
Then braid them into rugs cause she knew
when she gave you one you would give her great big hugs.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
Then one day, that old woman did up and die.
There wasn’t anyone with a dry eye.
She didn’t leave much to divide.
Except all the love that no one could hide.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
Around her grave site we stood
hands clasping hands until the preacher man said.
Dear Lord God, we give you thanks for the life this woman lived.
She sure was a Grandma Good.
Bulletin Board:
Good job, Mac. Thank you. Your poetry/prose captures the twangy dialect very well.
Closing Prayer:
Good morning, Lord!
Thank You for a new day. Thank You that Your compassion is renewed every morning. Great is Your faithfulness and Your steadfast love, O Lord! I don’t know what all is going to happen today, and how much I’ll get done, but You do. You have planned it just for me and because I know that you have prepared me for all that it holds, I will rejoice and be happy in your presence. So,
Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, Father. Energize me for Your work, because You know how tired these bones are. Awaken me to the wonder of Your salvation, and quicken my spirit to the reality of Your work in my life. Lord, my mind is filled with creative ideas, but they’re all jumbled. Holy Spirit, come and hover over my mind like You hovered over the waters at creation and speak order out of the chaos! Help me to cease striving and to trust that You will give me all I need today to do the work You’ve given me to do.
You will be faithful to complete the good work You’ve started, and as I step out into my day, I declare Your sovereignty over every area of my life. I entrust myself to You and ask that You use me, however You see fit. This day is Yours. My body is Yours. My mind is Yours. Everything I am is Yours. May You be pleased with me today. Amen.
(Today’s Watchword is a revision of one first posted May 11, 2020)
