A Really Good Day

You likely know the old saying, "every day is a good day as long as you're vertical." Certainly true. But every once in a while you have a day when you say, "This was a good day." This week my wife and I had one of those days.

It was really a simple kind of day. Inexpensive and not a lot of planning. It centered on our family: a visit from one of our sons and his two children. We had a simple meal and the kids played in the yard, got muddy and chased around after sticks, rocks and a deflated football. We caught up with his family and the tides of life lapping at their door. We laughed, we talked and we listened. Probably the most important thing we did was to listen. When the kids were bundled into the car and they drove off down the street my wife and looked at each other and said, "This was good."

We seem to have had several of these days lately. I'm not quite sure why, but I don't have to always know the details of "why." There is probably a philosophy behind the term, "live in the moment." It's a true statement, and it works. I don't have to buy into a creed to believe it works. I just find myself stopping and looking around at the moment and enjoying who I am with and what we are doing. Life works better that way.

Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes: "Nothing is better for a man than the he should eat and drink, and that his soul should enjoy good in his labor. This also, I saw, was from the hand of God" (2:24). Getting centered on such a vision seems to be where I find myself more and more today. It is more of a wake up call to appreciate the people who are closest-–my family. Without their love and support each day would be far more of a challenge.

So I pause and remember the days that are "good." And look forward to many more.