There's nothing like a good breakfast to start the day! My wife, Christa, frequently reminds me of that when she notices that all too often my breakfast is just a hurried bite to ward off 

the night's hunger (think a half bowl of cold cereal and a cup of coffee). Once in a while I throw my misguided notions of a healthy breakfast (actually my excuse for efficiency, or maybe even for my laziness) to the wind and take the time to make myself a fat and cholesterol feast of bacon, eggs (sunny side up), an English muffin slathered with butter, and a cup of strong coffee. To give a nod to good health, I'll add a slice or two of fresh cantaloupe melon, when available.

Yesterday was just such a "real breakfast day," and I went to the fridge and hauled out the egg carton and opened it with eager anticipation. When throwing out the carton after removing the last three remaining eggs, which I later gleefully ate, I saw it. There was a not-so-cryptic message lurking on the inside of the carton's cover. "This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalms 118:24.

That afternoon when shopping (eggs of course were on the shopping list), I looked at egg cartons from other suppliers, and saw that most of them also had this Psalm printed inside their cartons. What did these farmers know that I was not aware of?  Well, the farmer can do all the right things for his flock (good feed, warm and secure roost, and attentive care), but only the chicken will decide if she'll grant him an egg the next morning. Since even well-fed chickens do not lay eggs every day, the egg then is an unpredictable gift from the chicken to the farmer. Hmmm! I must have subliminally thought about this situation a bit more as I slept last night, because a few thoughts came to me this morning while eating my half bowl of cereal. Here you go!

We have several reasons to rejoice with each new day's breaking dawn besides having survived the night. First, the Lord made this day, so therefor it is holy. This day was given to us by God's grace. We did not and cannot earn this gift, and we have no idea how many such gifts we will get...only God knows that. All the same, each day is a holy treasure, and a gift. So what do we do with this gift? What can we do to show the Lord that we are at least trying to be worthy of His grace and His daily gift?

 

We all have lives to lead, work to do, responsibilities to fulfill, etc. etc. (i.e. the daily grind). As I go through my day, I must remind myself that not doing something bad is not the same thing as doing something good. The absence of evil is not in and of itself good, but rather just a neutral position. This brings me to a second reason to rejoice.

With each and every new day with which the Lord gifts us, we have an opportunity to show our thanks by doing something good. The good doesn't have to be an earth shattering thing either. Remember, it's often "the little things that count": a kind word, a returned favor, a phone call, a shared meal, a simple and heart-felt "thank-you". God gives us so many chances every day to please and bring comfort to others, and in doing so say "thanks" to Him for the gift of living that day. So, I will make a more determined effort to dismiss the daily grind and embrace it as the Daily Grace.

Peace,