Wherein I Remind Myself Of No Guarantees and Every Good Day

Back in June, Father’s Day finds us in our favorite place.

Home.

We aren’t all-out celebrators of holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day and Valentine’s Day and on the list goes. Sometimes we notice and we do something a bit celebratory. Other times we nod at the day and blow it a well-wish of a greeting and on we go.

This year my teens and I noted the approaching Father’s Day marked on our calendars and Tucker knew of a flashlight his dad held in high esteem at Uncle Justin’s, and I thought about Oakley sunglasses we’d long talked about purchasing for my man.

And that’s the beauty of the Internet. With a few clicks and a bit of scrolling through Ebay, a tad of comparison and an add to a shopping cart, we ordered gift items to find their way to our doorstep.

Swiping the app clear of my phone’s screen,the thoughts of Father’s Day faded into the background of my mental capacities.

I’d texted a friend and on Saturday evening I opened a return text and read her words. She says the end of her week has been hard leading up to tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

I do a mental check of the date and try to process if it’s a birthday or what event it means for her.  Her husband graduated to heaven and Jesus, and life has been adjustments and heartaches and pain to walk through for her.

Suddenly it strikes me! Yes! It’s Father’s Day tomorrow.

And the most important man in her life isn’t here to celebrate.

I quickly tap a reply. “It’s Father’s Day tomorrow isn’t it…..a mix of emotions for you all, I’m sure.” I tell her we don’t always celebrate in a big way and the day slips my mind sometimes. I offer her my prayers and wishes for God to bless their day with good memories from the days they’ve had.

She texts me back and at the end, three words I can’t get over.
SPOIL MATTHEW ROTTEN, she says.

It’s easy for me to put myself in other people’s emotions…..or at least how I imagine they might feel or how I think I would feel in the same situation. I’m instantly awash in compassion and tear-feels for her.

Spoil Matthew Rotten.

All evening and all Father’s Day the words stay with me. They haven’t left me yet.

She knows the heartache of wanting one more day to bless the man she shared life with.
I do not take it lightly when she tells me to spoil Matthew rotten.
She’s not guilting me. Her words bless me.

They remind me of what I often press in to the best as I can.

Every good day.

This is all we’re guaranteed. And even, today isn’t guaranteed.

I pull out the recipe for baked candy bars, the oatmeal, and brown sugar. Spoil Matthew Rotten. I measure and mix.

Into the oven and the aroma soon swirls around the kitchen.

I melt chocolate and peanut butter and spread it in swoopy swirls across the cooled bars.

I carry the cookie bars to the basement. One of my man’s favorite snacks.

We slip the Courageous DVD in and push play. Curling up on the couches, we watch the familiar story begin to unfold on the screen and we bite into chocolate and oatmeal and savor the sweet taste.

It’s been a while since we watched Courageous. Today, a sentence catches my attention and sticks and I keep turning it around and around, dancing with my other three words, Spoil Matthew Rotten.
In the movie, the character, Adam meets with his pastor for help and encouragement as he walks through the loss of a dearly loved person and the pain that goes with it.

The pastor poses this question, “Will you be angry for the time you didn’t have or grateful for the time that you did?”

The question hangs in the air, waves like a floating banner through my head.

It’s good to contemplate.

Certainly the loss of a loved one is no small thing. Pain and searing sorrow and ache and angst.
And I think about it.
Bitterness or Gratefulness. Heaviness or hopefulness.

But what of today? Today with my family. Today in the constant pressure and pull and grasping after patience.

Am I treasuring the today like I could?

Am I finding the moments in each day to Spoil Matthew Rotten?

Am I treasuring up the cheery notes of my teen people’s chuckles?

Am I breathing out grateful or stewing in selfish?

I take Today for granted. Oh, don’t I know it!!!

I get distracted, disgruntled, disarmed, displeased.

I forget to find the fun and fall into fear.

What of today, here in the rattlings and bangings, when the noise is getting on my-last-highly-sensitive-nerve?!

What of today when physical pain hovers deep and gnawing?

What of today when chores are forgotten and I am impatient with the negligence?

What of today when discouragement and disillusionment are weighing heavy?

What of today in the middle of news we didn’t want to hear?

What of these days?

What then??

Will I choose to Love Well, to Forgive, to Ask Forgiveness, to Pray Fervent and to Breathe out Gratitude when I’d really rather list my complaints?

WILL I?

Because, remember no guarantees of tomorrow. Today. Right now. It’s what I hold . This day. THIS GOOD DAY.

To Spoil Matthew Rotten.
To laugh with my teens.
To text my Mother.
To open up my Bible.
To say thank-you.

 

 

Blessings to you, on THIS GOOD DAY, friends!

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018