Some days, the walls seem to get a little closer to one another. Some days seem to go on and on and on. Some days, things get blown out of proportion for no good reason. Some days, our flesh gets the best of us, and we become hateful, rude, and slightly cranky. Some days, we feel like we are spinning our wheels or are always in a hurry. Some days, nothing seems to get done the way we intended. Have you ever had one of these days?

God knows when we are having one of these days. He knows all about our ungratefulness and fleshly desires. He definitely doesn’t want us to keep having these days—the days when we overlook the fact that we truly have nothing to complain about.

He wants to teach us that every day matters to Him and show us exactly what is important. We just have to be willing to learn, students who care about what the teacher is teaching.

For me, today was one of those days. It was one of those days that God pointed out my sinfulness, ugliness, and pettiness. It was one of those days that He showed me how loving He really is. It is hard to even fathom how much He loves me. Today, He should have corrected me in a negative way.

But He chose to teach me kindly instead. He is so good at being merciful. He used what He has blessed me with to show me how much He cares.

He used the giant sunflowers almost ready to bloom, the tiny green tomatoes peeking out from under each leaf, the cute little watermelon resting on the vines, and the plump blackberries in the fence rows ready to be eaten.

He used the chatter and excitement of four kids playing tag and a game of cards in the barn as Mommy, Daddy, and Baby Jayce worked on the farm.

He used Black-Eyed Susans and Indian Blankets stretched out from the kindest eleven-year-old’s hands. He used a slightly younger eight-year-old offering a Queen Anne’s Lace because she was prompted by her older brother’s random act of kindness.

He used those oldest two and the middle one’s awe over the beautifully pink tinted clouds and the crescent moon as we walked down the long gravel drive searching out more ripened blackberries.

He used the sweetest 14-month-old old falling asleep in his backpack carrier as his daddy checked on his big sister’s scrapes and scratches from a sudden slip down the hill.

He used that sleeping 14-month-old as he snuggled into my arms, his smiling big brother and the hurt sister climbing into the backpack carrier that rested on her daddy’s back. How peaceful it was to watch.

He used bats swooping down to catch moths and talk about echolocation with the eight-year-old girl who had held the Queens Anne’s Lace. I could have listened to her talk for hours. She is so intelligent. 

He also used that adorable girl and her older brother taking time to lend some attention to a few of their best friends.   

He used a curious little six-year-old searching for the North Star because not so long ago, we read about a Native American named Kaya who used the North Star to find her way home. The trees ultimately blocked his view, but as we climbed back up the gravel road, he quickly recognized the western side of the farm as I pointed out the setting sun in the distance. 

Minutes before the six-year-old boy noticed the sun going to bed for the night,  God used the precious girl with the scratches and scrapes puckering up for a kiss. And, He used her sweet little whisper, “I love you, Mommy. I love Daddy, too. I love all of you.”

Yes. God is good. I don’t have one reason to complain. I am so blessed.

Psalm 136:1 – O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth forever.