My friend shared a sweet thought. “The first thing I do when I open my eyes each morning is say, ‘Good morning, Lord. What are we going to do today?”
Something clicked inside me. I usually say good-morning, Lord, but it was the second part that caught my attention.
At this stage of my life, most of the time I can plan my days as I choose. I really liked her suggestion and decided to make it mine.
With coffee in hand, I went to the swing the next morning and prayed, “What are we going to do today, Lord?”
The phone rang almost immediately, “Can you watch some kids today?”asked my daughter-in-law.
Hmmm, interesting. Okay, Lord. “Sure,” I responded. “Why not.”
In no time at all, in came four “little ones” 12, 8, 7, and 3. An hour later, there was a knock at the door. Two more Mimlets came in ages 12 and 9, AND a friend.
Okay, Lord. “Come on in.”
One giant loaf of bread, 1 jar of peanut butter, 2/3’s jar of jelly, seven apples, a bag of cheese sticks and a half-bag of cookies later . . . I sat staring at my crust sandwich and thinking, did I hear Your right, Lord? I felt Him smile.
Then the squirt-guns came out. Now I had seven soaked Mimlets, a pile of muddy white towels, a pile of wet shoes and all I heard “That was great, WE’RE HUNGRY.”
It never helps to remind them they only ate an hour ago.
“Sorry, we’re out of bread. How ’bout I make popcorn?”
That night I crunched some random popcorn pieces as I walked to my bed and folded into the sheets at 8:30, exhausted, and happy. I had the sense I’d truly done the Lord’s work.
The next morning I said, “Good morning, Lord.” Hesitated for a moment and said, “What are we going to do today?”
Guess what my son brought home that day . . . a PUPPY!”
I looked down at the eleven week old German Shepherd, totally speechless. Okay Lord.
After twenty-four hours with Odie, I was in love.
“He’s such a fine dog,” I told my son.”I wish I knew more so I can help with the training.”
“Don’t feel bad,” he said, “just because he has papers and you don’t.”
We had a good laugh as I disengaged my shoe from the dog’s mouth.
Yesterday, I said, “Good morning, Lord, what are we going to do today?” I looked at my overgrown garden from the porch swing and felt the urge to pull weeds. I knew this had to be God. It’s the first time all summer my back didn’t kick up a fuss. When I crawled into bed that night, I was happy for all the work that got done . . . only, I noticed how itchy I was. . .
Yep . . . you guessed it . . .Poison Ivy! At least I can say I was doing the Lord’s work.
It’s so easy to equate “doing the Lord’s work” with some type of religious activity: prayer, study, visiting the sick etc. I’m seeing His work is life, ordinary life – lived with Him. Whether it’s tending Mimlets, helping to train a puppy, and yes, even poison ivy . . . everything is good when you walk with a Good God.