Rejoice And Be Glad

Rejoice and Be Glad

This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24

Molly enjoyed her job in the customer service department of a major publishing company, was active in her church, and loved her extended family of growing nieces and nephews. But even with her always-present smile, she was growing tired of hearing favorite aunts, coworkers, and even strangers ask, “You are such a lovely young woman. Why aren’t you married?”

She was starting to wonder that herself. Yes, what is wrong with me? she thought as she tried not to watch couples holding hands, laughing over dinner, looking at furniture together. For long moments she stared into the mirror each morning and evening, pondering what she could change that might make her more attractive. Maybe if she lost weight. Or changed her hair color. Or worked more on the leg machine at the gym. Gradually her life goals were narrowed to this: Get a man! And that meant everything else was put on hold.

When three of the young women from her department invited her to join them for a long weekend at a popular tourist spot two hours away, Molly refused, claiming a busy schedule. Actually, she had heard so many good things about the resort that she was determined to save the experience to share with her future husband.

During a going-out-of-business sale at a nearby household store, she passed up incredible savings on her favorite china pattern, thinking, I’ll wait until I’m married so we can choose our pattern together. Even her uncle’s offer to re-cover Molly’s comfortable but threadbare chair was met with refusal as she thought, Once I’m married, I’ll get it redone in my husband’s favorite color. And, of course, she would never consider building equity by purchasing her own town house, even though several in her complex became available at a lower-than-market price the week the landlord decided to move to Arizona.

Putting her life on hold meant that Molly was ignoring the invitation of Psalm 118:24: “This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” While she supposedly planned for the future, she deliberately missed embracing today’s joy. —SANDRA

Lord, help me to embrace today’s joy and not foolishly waste it by trying to deposit it in future happiness. May I be aware of your presence and your pleasure as I hug present moments with a thankful heart.

Morning prayer: Good morning, God. I love You! What are You up to today? I want to be part of it. —NORMAN GRUBB (1895–1993), MISSIONARY, WRITER, AND SPEAKER