I smile and enjoy the moment. Everything is right with the world and I am happy as a clam. The day was perfect, the conversations edifying, a little work happened and a little play and rest. Now the children are tucked in and it's just me and the man of my dreams. Some days everything just lays out perfectly.
But what if…
What if something happens to one of us under this roof and our bliss is taken? What if there comes a day when my husband gets up and there is no job for him to go to? What about fires, earthquakes, floods, and cancer?
But what if…
What if I reach 80 and have bitter regrets? Or I realize that I chased the wrong dream, loved the wrong things, and sacrificed for what perishes?
They flood into my moment and steal my joy. Those thoughts play on the unknown and they mock me because truly, everything could change in the blink of an eye.
But what if I just always enjoy this moment, because it's the only one outside of eternity that I'm sure of? Can't I be happy with this?
Thus far the LORD has helped us. (1 Samuel 7:12)
I have no reason to doubt His goodness, and if all else fails, then my default is eternity. If all else fails then this life was just a blip on the screen and the good and bad all wrap up in Forever, where there is no 'what if'.
Worry can take a hike.
So the Philistines were subdued, and they did not come anymore into the territory of Israel. (1 Samuel 7:13)
Have you had moments stolen by the 'what ifs' this week? Maybe you, like me, need to remember that thus far the LORD has helped us and we have no need to fear that He would suddenly stop. His faithfulness is to all generations.
So the reminder for us is in everything give thanks. The only thing to come, the only future we need to dwell on, is the certain one bought for us by our Redeemer.
Be thankful for, and live in, the now.
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Some things I'm thankful for now, added to the slow-growing list:
250. starting over again, with new mercy for every morning
251. friends and family that stop by
252. my handy-dandy, new-to-me computer hutch, given by a friend
253. un-prompted apologies