Where’s the Joy? A Widow’s Walk

February 3

This has been a tough couple of weeks. With the snow and ice, I’ve not been able to get out as easily. Only a couple of days, but I felt isolated. It’s been almost a year, but I still miss his presence and sometimes expect him to appear.

I’ve had a lot of emotional support this year. Widows who have been there and share their experiences, friends who are still married but take the time to ask how I’m doing, family to visit and to call…and others who come alongside so that I know I’m not alone and isolated.

I’m reading through Hebrews for my quiet time, and I came across the verse that says, “Today, if you hear his voice…”

I got stuck on the “today”. Yesterday has already passed. I can’t change anything I did or said. It’s a done deal. I can apologize, be grateful, make atonement, but I can’t change the past.

Tomorrow is an unknown, my words and actions yet to be determined. Being fearful or worried about the future won’t change it.

What I have is this moment, today. What I do and say today can set up tomorrow for success. The way I respond to what happened yesterday can also set up tomorrow for success. By living in this moment, today, embracing the joys and sorrows of the moment, choosing my words, and doing the works that God would have me do, I will face tomorrow with no regrets.

Pollyanna? Pie in the sky? Idealized thinking? Perhaps.

I’ve spent a lot of time thinking of the past, understandable with the passing of Norm. The memories are good. I’ve spent some time considering my future, how am I going to do this alone?

I have today. I can prioritize my relationship with God, reading His Word and praying for wisdom and help. I can prioritize family and friends, taking the time to speak a word of encouragement. I can take care of the mundane things that must be done, for life goes on…like taxes and housework.

Where’s the joy? Today is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I am thankful for God’s faithfulness to remind me that He has all this in His hand. He has a plan for my future, He knows my past failures. He knows my hopes and dreams.

I pray for wisdom as I choose the best words and actions for each day as I continue to interact with this world and the people in it.

I rejoice that God made today.

Where’s the joy? It’s available all around me, I just need to open my eyes to see it.

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Oh let Israel say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Oh let the house of Aaron say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
Oh let those who fear the Lord say,
“His lovingkindness is everlasting.”
From my distress I called upon the Lord;
The Lord answered me and set me in a large place.
The Lord is for me; I will not fear;
What can man do to me?
The Lord is for me among those who help me;
Therefore I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
Than to trust in princes.
All nations surrounded me;
In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
They surrounded me, yes, they surrounded me;
In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
They surrounded me like bees;
They were extinguished as a fire of thorns;
In the name of the Lord I will surely cut them off.
You pushed me violently so that I was falling,
But the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and song,
And He has become my salvation.
The sound of joyful shouting and salvation is in the tents of the righteous;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
The right hand of the Lord is exalted;
The right hand of the Lord does valiantly.
I will not die, but live,
And tell of the works of the Lord.
The Lord has disciplined me severely,
But He has not given me over to death.
Open to me the gates of righteousness;
I shall enter through them, I shall give thanks to the Lord.
This is the gate of the Lord;
The righteous will enter through it.
I shall give thanks to You, for You have answered me,
And You have become my salvation.
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief corner stone.
This is the Lord’s doing;
It is marvelous in our eyes.
This is the day which the Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
O Lord, do save, we beseech You;
O Lord, we beseech You, do send prosperity!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord;
We have blessed you from the house of the Lord.
The Lord is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

Psalm 118