The Next Day…

My good friend Tammy made these clever fabric fortune cookies for our New Year’s party. She’s always finding these cool things. It’s one of the many reasons I enjoyed working with her for several years planning worship events. That and the fact that she is a “truth-teller.” Yup, one of those people who keeps you honest and levels you with their view of the world. In fact, I’m grateful for all of these friends who have been available to me in my life- through those aches and pains, joys and triumphs along the way. You know who you are…
I’m not sure what it means that the fortune I pulled out of my “cookie” on New Year’s Eve said “this is not the fortune you’re looking for,” (ha!) but perhaps if I need to look inside a cookie to find out where my life is heading, I might need to work a little harder.

“Write it on your heart
that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day
who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.

Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day;
begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense.

This new day is too dear,
with its hopes and invitations,
to waste a moment on the yesterdays.”
―     Ralph Waldo Emerson,     Collected Poems and Translations

I couldn’t say it better than that.
I watched another good friend, Pastor Cheryl C. giving blessings to her confirmation students- making the sign of the cross on their foreheads “You are a beloved child of God” she would say. It brought tears to my eyes-still does. I suppose it might not be practical to bless each other this way whenever we meet, but what if we did? What if we were to remind each other every day that we are loved, blessed and cared for? Sure might make stepping out into the world a little easier, don’t you think?   Well, if no one else tells you today, I love you and you are a beloved child of God!
See you tomorrow- but make today matter. Gayle
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