Making every day a beautiful day

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“If God cares enough about the planet Saturn to give it rings or

Venus to make it sparkle, is there an outside chance that he cares

enough about you to meet your needs?”

-- MAX LUCADO

“The love of the father is like a sudden rain shower that will

pour forth when you least expect it, catching you up into wonder and

praise.”

-- RICHARD J. FOSTER

“I thank God for today, this beautiful day, another day,” a friend

said to me a few weeks ago.

We talked briefly about God, what we were learning about him and

what we were learning about ourselves. We were both at a time in our

lives where there were more changes than we were comfortable with,

but we both agreed that one of the many things we had been learning

was that God is God, and we are not.

She told me that even though she was unsure about many things in

her future, she was sure that God would faithfully provide what she

needed and that he would direct her as she sought his wisdom and

guidance.

We hugged and she smiled and once again said, “I thank God for

today, this beautiful day, another day.”

We talked again a few days later, and we hugged again. Then in a

cheerful voice, she practically sang, “I thank God for today, this

beautiful day, another day.”

I told her I loved her attitude and enthusiasm, and that her

outlook that particular day was especially refreshing, because I’d

already heard several people complain about the days of pounding

rain.

She nodded and smiled.

“I’ve heard several people grumble about the weather too, but I am

so thankful to God for another day to live for and to love him,” she

said. “If it’s sunny outside, that’s great; and if it’s raining,

that’s great too; and who am I to doubt that God has a reason for

everything, and I don’t even have to know what it is. I just have to

trust him.

“I’ve decided that circumstances in life may not always be

convenient or enjoyable, but I can be thankful that I have another

day. I know that some people wake up and mumble something negative

like, ‘Oh God, it’s morning.’ But others greet the day positively,

saying something like, ‘Thank God, it’s another morning.’ We all have

choices.”

I thought about my friend and her thankful attitude the last few

mornings when I woke up on dark, cool mornings. Doing so made me more

eager to greet the day. I’ve said her phrase out loud several times

lately, and each time I did, I sensed God’s love in a new way.

I also felt a growing love of God and an increasing trust that he

is able to meet my needs. There really is so much to be thankful for,

today and tomorrow and the tomorrows thereafter.

I thank God for today, this beautiful day, another day.

And you can quote me on that.

* CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON is a Newport Beach resident who speaks

frequently to parenting groups. She may be reached via e-mail at

cindy@onthegrow.com or through the mail at 537 Newport Center Drive,

Box 505, Newport Beach, CA 92660.