How often do you catch yourself responding, "Same old, same old!" when someone asks you how your day or week is going? My hand is in the air because that's a response that I give often.
I was really convicted when I said it recently, though, because it dawned on me that I had just given in to what I think of as the monotony of life. We all have our routines, and typically, they look pretty similar throughout the week. We know we'll be at work during these hours, picking up the kids at this time, getting things done around the house in the morning or afternoon, and trying to get everything in order for the next day before we go to bed.
It may feel monotonous, but our days are anything but. I think that in our routines, it becomes very easy to discard the gift that each day is, and the unlimited potential that we've been given to be a representative of Jesus to everyone we come in contact with. We have time with our loved ones, which, as the passing of Dolly Parton just proved, is never something we can never guarantee or afford to take for granted. Perhaps you are potentially able-bodied and have the ability to contribute to a job that pays your bills. In my case, I get the immense opportunity to share the hope of Jesus with you and so many others every single day.
We have unique experiences, opportunities to learn lessons, setbacks that challenge us and victories that strengthen our faith - all in any given week.
Does any of that sound monotonous to you? Because when I started looking at my weeks, I realized what I was calling "monotonous" was actually the generous gift of time that God has given me. And in positioning it that way in my mind, it has changed how I view my days.
Now, the next time someone asks me how my day or week is going, I can confidently respond, "It's been a pretty great gift so far!"
