“Never let loving devotion or faithfulness leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Proverbs 7:3
Tell me something good.
For the first time in months, the television wasn’t already tuned to the news when I padded to the kitchen for morning coffee. Nothing happened of note since last night that couldn’t wait until the sun came up.
At any particular moment, at any given time, someone, somewhere experiences profound suffering. At that same instant, someone, somewhere experiences unspeakable joy surpassing all they will ever know.
Last week I woke up with an unwarranted and unwelcome case of the blues. When my spirit kilters off course, I assume I’ve participated in it, either by something I’ve said or done, or some promised thing I’ve neglected. I tried unsuccessfully to connect the dots back to a circumstance that dampened my sense of well-being, yet found myself grasping.
You may remember that television game show, “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire”. You may also recall that even the brightest and best educated of contestants occasionally found themselves stumped. At that point, the rules allowed them to call one person, their Lifeline, whose counsel could be considered when addressing the question.
Last week I made that call. When I couldn’t shake the blues, I started calling my grown children. One of them was in worse shape than I was at that moment. After briefly commiserating, we parted company until the time when we might feel more like a conversation.
On the second call I hit the jackpot. My grown son listened a moment, asked empathetically what was going on, and then shouted across a noisy room towards my Lifeline. “Hey kids, Nana feels blue, let’s cheer her up!” Adeline Grace flashed her most loving smile, and Beckham jumped up and down dancing. Dashiell, age 6, grabbed a pen and through Facetime asked me to hold up my hand to the phone. As he began to write virtually across more than a thousand miles, I asked what he was doing.
“Nana, I’m giving you a tattoo on your hand that says, ‘I love you’, so you’ll remember…” His words reminded me of scripture that speaks about writing love on our heart, so that when times get tough, that love will endure.
The Lifeline of love, prayer, and morning coffee fortified me for that day. Still, from time to time we all need a break from the world’s unending chaos. When you see me next, tell me something good.
Prayer: Thank you, God, for writing your love on our hearts with indelible ink. Remind us that you are close to us as breathing whatever this day may bring. Amen
God’s grace, mercy, and peace,
Rev. Dr. Anna V. Copeland
Senior Minister, The Community Church of Vero Beach, Florida
United Church of Christ
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