A friend of mine drew me to the quote, 'Life is 10% events, and 90% your reaction", by Craig DeMartino. This is so true. Though we don't have much control of the events of our lives we do have control over how we handle ourselves and react to those events.
Today I was thinking about how everyone gets so excited for Friday. I see facebook status reports all the time, "Hooray for Friday" "TGIF" etc. Well, what is so great about Friday? It seems just like any other day. Sure, sometimes we get to wear casual clothing at work, but we are still at work. Right? For me, the reason that Fridays are exciting is because it means that Saturday is around the corner. Saturday means rest. Therefore, it's not truly Friday that is great. It's HOPE! Friday means HOPE!
After a busy week of wrangling my little guys, working, cleaning, doing dishes, laundry and a million other little things, I am ready for a day where I don't have to be anywhere. Though some work is obviously required (can't just not feed my boys), I get to slow it down a bit. I am ready for a day where I can wear my sweats all day, and not brush my hair. Don't worry, I do brush my teeth. So when I hold on to the hope that tomorrow will bring a break, I find energy and purpose to make it through.
With this thought in mind I realize how important it is for me to hold on to the hope that I have in Christ.
Hebrews 10:22-26 sum up my thoughts for the day:
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
I chose to react to the events of today with the thoughts of tomorrow in mind. If only I could live every day as if it were Friday. All of the sudden the daily tasks that often feel insurmountable might seem more attainable. My reactions to my sons might be a little more patient, a little less stressed out. When I set my eyes on the hope I have in the Lord it turns a hard day into a Friday. Though I still have to make it through the day I have hope that tomorrow will bring rest.
Ultimately because of my hope in Him, my reactions to life's events come out a whole lot different than they do when I lose sight and look at the day as if it were just another Monday.
