“Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery.
Today is a gift which is why we call it the present.”
–Bill Keane
(creator of the comic, Family Circus)
During my years as a fourth grade teacher, I used this Bill Keane quote to review with the kids the basic three tenses of the English language. The humor added a bit of fun; the truth of Keane’s statement added a bit of wisdom.
Even nine- and ten-year olds can benefit from the realization that:
Yesterday is past. We’re better off if we choose not to hold on to the hurts and disappointments of days gone by.
Tomorrow is a mystery; ‘best not to dwell on worrisome possibilities that most likely won’t happen.
Today is a gift from the ultimate Gift-Giver, God himself, and there is much to savor and appreciate.
The problem is, I forget. Those moments when I’ve marveled, laughed, or sighed in contentment are lost by day’s end in the blur of busy-ness.
So over the last few months I’ve been recording small blessings worthy of celebration—at least one per day, sometimes more.
For example:
- While I was exercising, a bustling little wren nodded and bobbed from her log-perch outside the window. She cheered me on.
- A glowing pink sunrise in the east greeted a crescent pearl moon to the west–beauty shouting praise into the silence of dawn.
- Our four-year old granddaughter, Elena, found an instant friend at the playground. The two girls gleefully ran back and forth several times across a field, holding hands. They perfectly illustrated Celeste Palermo’s observation, “Children are high-energy guides from Heavenly Tours, Inc.” (1).
- A woodpecker extravaganza occurred in the backyard when three different species congregated at the same time—a flicker, a red-bellied, and a hairy.
(Hard to tell this guy is a red-bellied woodpecker.)
- I spent a quiet hour reading on the deck one evening, reveling in heavenly weather and a bowl of sublime strawberries. All senses were happily engaged—mind and spirit, too.
You’ll notice there’s nothing particularly exciting on this list. No exotic locations, no momentous adventures.
Just affirmations that right now is good and quiet moments afford their own distinctive treasures.
It’s been great fun collecting these small snippets of surprise, exhilaration, and solace each day. I’m learning to carve the extraordinary out of ordinary and find the holy among the humdrum.
The Gift-Giver himself resides among his gifts. And as I savor selected moments of my days, I taste and see that he is good (Psalm 34:8).
* * * * * * * * * *
Thank you, Father, for this moment, right here, right now, that includes happy trees outside my window, clapping their hands in praise to you. I thank you for the soft cloak of quiet around me, and the nest of memories surrounding my desk, woven from things old, bestowed, and beloved. “The earth is full of your loving kindness, O God”—even in my little office.
(Isaiah 55:12, Psalm 33:5b)
What moment from today will you savor? Tell us about it in the comment section below!
Note
- Celeste Palermo, The Coffee Mom’s Devotional: A Rich Blend of 30 Brief and Inspiring Devotions, (Revell, 2009), 154.
(Art & photo credits: www.wikipedia.org; http://www.wikimedia.com; http://www.maxpixel.freegreatpicture.com; http://www.wikimedia.com; http://www.pxhere.com; http://www.wikimedia.com; http://www.pixabay.com; http://www.heartlight.org.)
From the Inside Out 
Yup. We get out of bed and before we know it we’re getting back in & little have we appreciated the day. Thanks for the encouragement
You’re welcome Wood Tic. Your description of a typical day makes me even more determined to “live aware” through my days! Thank YOU for the reality check.
This is my favorite kind of list!! Thanks so much for sharing it today!
So glad you enjoyed the list, Diana. You’re welcome!
Nancy, I wish you and I had been teachers together….What a gift you must have been to you r students.
Wouldn’t that have been fun–to teach together! I do pray that at least some of the time I “gifted” my students with patience, understanding, knowledge, wisdom, and love.
PERFECT message for my first day of full-blown retirement!! So grateful God has my future in HIS hands – one blessed day at a time!
Thanks, Nancy!!
Woo-hoo! You made it, Debbie! I pray your days ARE supremely blessed with purpose, fulfillment, and joy. (Now you’ll have time to savor YOUR glorious surroundings! Hurray!!)
Nancy, that is one of my favorite sayings and you have given me new inspiration. Thank you for reminding me of a wonderful message. Love to you and Steve.
Thank you Ruth. I am honored you found new inspiration here!
Nancy, another inspiration and I think this is one of many favorite verses and what a blessing to always have Jesus with us in the simple details of our lives as he is in all details. Blessings, to you and Steve, Janet
It IS a glorious blessing to have Jesus as our constant Companion, ready to share even the small pleasures of life with us. Thank you, Janet! Blessings to you, too, dear friend.
Yes I forget too. Just today i began working on a series on wonder for the blog and then read your post. A great centering and inspiring thought to help form my thinking. Thanks Nancy! and a great quote to always revisit.
Thank you, Jean. I’ll look forward to that series on “wonder”–a capacity that can never grow too large, and never ceases to expand our joy!
“The Gift-Giver himself resides among his gifts. And as I savor selected moments of my days, I taste and see that he is good (Psalm 34:8).” I love this, Nancy! It’s so true, and a lovely reminder for me today.
The air here is choked with the smoke of hundreds of fires that are raging in my state. It’s rather surreal and sobering and slightly frightening, though we’re far from the danger zones. I’ve never seen such smoke here on the coast!
So this reminder is good. My moment to savor is this: we have adopted two sweet, early generation, bengal kittens and the past few months have been spent bonding with them. They bond differently from most cats, fiercely and, if not done properly, it will be with the other animals in the house rather than the people. I wasn’t sure for awhile whether I was getting through to one of my ‘boys’, but today he jumped up and snuggled with me on the couch, purring like a lion, happy to simply be with me. It was a beautiful moment worth savoring, a lovely gift from my Father, indeed!
I hope all is well with you this weekend, dear friend. Thank you for once again helping me focus! 🙂
Oh, that had to be a sweet moment, when your kitten snuggled up with you for the first time. Our son’s cat gave me the same thrill one day, pawing me with “love pats” on my leg. Then I realized it was dinner time, and I was his waitress for the evening! 🙂
Hi Nancy,
I am appreciating those moments when nothing is pressing and words aren’t always needed.
Thank you,
Gary
“When words aren’t needed” and we can sit in companionable silence–those ARE moments worth savoring! Thank you for adding that idea to the list, Gary.
I’m just now reading this post but the timing (God’s timing) is perfect. I’ve been concerned about something, have taken it to the Lord, then snatched it back to worry again. You wrote ‘best not to dwell on worrisome possibilities that most likely won’t happen.’ A great reminder! If I look back on all of the worries that have crossed my horizon…95%+ of them never happened! Worrying is a distraction that the devil puts in my line of vision to keep me from focusing on the many blessings in my life. He’s NOT going to win the battle OR the war! Thanks, again, for a wonderful and encouraging post, Nancy!
Praise God this post ministered to you at just the right time, Cheri. I greatly appreciated what you said: “Worrying is a distraction that the devil puts in my line of vision to keep me from focusing on the many blessings in my life.” SO true! He just loves to snuff out our joy and steal away our peace. With you I want to fight against Satan’s negativity and discouragement with praise and gratitude.