Ordinary Days
ORDINARY DAYS
Read Ecclesiastes 3:11-14.
The Murrays were concluding their family devotions by reading from an exciting missionary book. “The jungle closed in around Pedro,” read Dad. “He knew his enemies were looking for him. Since Pedro had become a Christian, other members of his tribe were determined to kill him. Pedro prayed as he ran.”
“This is so scary,” Mary whispered.
Dad continued reading. “Suddenly a dark-skinned man stepped out of the bushes just ahead. He motioned for Pedro to follow him. Should I follow him? Pedro thought. Is this man an enemy too? Pedro didn’t know what to do.” Dad looked up, put a bookmark in the book, and closed it. “Bedtime!” he said.
“Oh no!” groaned Kurt.
“Just one more page?” pleaded Mary.
Mom shook her head. “There’s school tomorrow.”
Kurt stretched. “Boy, some people live such exciting lives, and mine is so ordinary. School, practicing trumpet, studying, eating, sleeping, and school again.”
“Well, I suspect Pedro was glad when his life became somewhat ordinary after he escaped from his enemies,” Dad said.
“Then he does get away!” Kurt laughed heartily at his unexpected discovery. “Well, I still think my days are pretty dull.”
“God planned for ordinary days in our lives,” said Dad. “He knows we need them. Even men of the Bible had ordinary days. Daniel didn’t face lions every day. He also worked in the king’s court doing many ordinary jobs. And Paul was a tentmaker. He no doubt spent many days sewing, measuring, and cutting. We need to see all those ordinary days as gifts from God.”
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Do you sometimes feel that the exciting things are happening to everyone else? Ordinary days of going to school, eating, and sleeping are a part of God’s plan for you. Think of each day as a gift from God.
TO MEMORIZE:
For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
THANK GOD FOR EACH DAY.
From the book
