Encouragement

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On a busy morning last week, I dropped my sons off at school. It was the usual morning rush and I was already thinking about the day ahead. Typical thoughts and concerns had already invaded my mind as I blew a kiss to my youngest, Kyle. He was almost in the building, when he suddenly turned and ran back to my car. I immediately wondered whether there was a problem but Kyle poked his head into the window and with a wide grin on his face he said, "Mom, I hope that God blesses you today with the BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE!" Then he spun around and ran inside.

I giggled a bit at the innocence of youth as I drove to the office. My sweet son has such a beautiful spirit and I know he meant every word he said, but what a silly thing to say. Surely the "best day of your life" is your wedding day or the day your child is born, or any other day marked by some extraordinary event? How could TODAY be the best day of my life, when I had nothing special planned? In fact, the opposite was more likely to be true. That day was planned full of particularly difficult meetings and problems to be solved. This was a very difficult time for me as the organisation I work for had recently announced that they were restructuring. There would be retrenchments and many of my colleagues (even me) could be losing their jobs. Of all times to say it, I would NEVER expect that day to be the best day of my life.

But I was wrong. The more I thought about it... the more I saw the beautiful truth in my son's words.


John 10:10 Jesus says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." New American Standard Bible (©1995)

The Greek word used for "life" in this verse is the word "Zoe". It means "lifestyle". It is not as if one person is more alive than another. It is that one person has a better lifestyle than another - through Jesus. The lifestyle God wants to bless us with is one of freedom, grace and blessing. Freedom from fear, freedom from worry, freedom from sin. Grace that we don't deserve and blessings from a very generous Father. Why would God say He came to give us abundant life if we aren't meant to live one? He came to give us LIFE and to give it ABUNDANTLY.

Surely as Christians every day of our lives should be the best day of our lives. How quickly we loose sight of the gift of grace God has granted us.

At that early hour of the morning, I was already weighed down with the burden of worry about the day ahead. I'd already picked up the heavy burden of concern and stress over what "could happen". I had allowed the enemy to take my focus away from the LIFE Jesus gave me.

My little boy had spoken words so simple, yet so powerful. I was humbled by his honest, faith in our Father's promise. He had no doubt that it was possible for me to have the best day of my life - THAT DAY and every day thereafter!

What is "your life" if not a collection of one day after another? The ONLY day we actually have is right here, right now - TODAY. We spend so much energy focusing on the regrets of our past or the hopes (and concerns) of our future. How much time do we spend living in the moment? It is as though we are on a journey but spend so much time looking in the rear view mirror or on the map that we miss the breathtaking scenery around us.

I decided that from now on, every day will be the best day of my life - because in reality it is the ONLY day of my life that I am actually living at any point in time. I accept and value the abundant life Jesus came to give me! I feel grateful that through Christ I can enjoy a blessed life on earth and the hope of eternity in Heaven.

Thank you Kyle, for reminding me of such a beautiful truth.

God bless you always!

Love Bronwyn
www.swatswot.com

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