How Are You Today? * A Delightful Glow

How are you doing today, my friend?

The text message asks me. The pixellated black letters, typed by the fingers of my friend, and whirled into who-knows-where, by the tapping of the send button and arriving moments later on my phone. It’s enough to make my head spin. It’s a simple everyday thing I take for granted anymore, but ask me how it works??? I just trust it to and believe that it does.

How am I doing? There’s a question. It could be answered in a variety of quick and simple replies.

“I’m fine! I’m good! Doing ok. Blessed. Stressed. I’m tired. My feet hurt. Ready for pajamas! Grateful for tasks accomplished. I wouldn’t turn down a beach vacation.”

Yes. Lots of one or two-line answers.

I think about it and here’s how I am doing today.

I’m grateful I’m not battling a flood out my backdoor. I’m grateful my basement isn’t full of water.

I’m grateful that our world contains a lot of caring people and a lot of compassion that pulls together when disaster strikes.

I’m happy for the tomatoes our plants have produced and the jars of salsa on my basement countertop.

I’m grateful for mobility, EVEN though my feet hurt and there’s pain in my ankle and body.

I’m glad for bills to pay, even though I’m-not-glad too, but it means we have work and we have electricity and air conditioning and growing crops. It means I hold a phone in my hand that receives messages from the-who-knows-where quicker than I can type this.

How am I today?

I’m giving gratitude, because herein is a small secret for dispelling discouragement and holding out for hope.

Hope.

Whispering down and around like scattered, fluttering rose petals.

How are you today, dear heart?
Can you hear Him?
My Jesus.
His Word lays open on my coffee table.
Black letters inked on wispy page.
Inspired by the Spirit sent from the-we-know-where.
From we know Who. From our Father.
And He tells me who I am.
I am His.
I am Chosen.
I am Loved.
I am Redeemed.
And guess what?
I don’t quite understand how THAT works either.
But I trust Him and I believe Him and I lean in close.

How am I today?

I’m cared about.