For the month of October (and surely, I pray, beyond) I’m determined to love every day. Now, that could read: I’m determined to love every day or I’m determined to love every day. I’m conscious of this double meaning or double intent and, therefore, have decided to aim to graciously pass through/live in/focus on living each day of this month on purpose. I had come across an article, then a book and then a radio program (surely not be accident — and by the third time I could see this) keying in on the phrase: Love is a choice. For surely, it is true, love — or the response of love/to love is a choice! We can let come what may, speak before we think, judge a matter before we consider it, respond without thinking. Any or all of those reactions happen every day to us – in us – through us. But the decision to love — the decision to react in love – the decision to embrace the day/season/month — just might prove to be more challenging with the sun’s rising and setting each day.
One of the several things I’m doing/planning to do during this month is to pray each morning for specific needs that actually require more love than any other tangible thing. Another way I am planning on utilizing is to see or to watch for what the Lord has for each day by going to the Scriptures to search in the tenth chapter of a book (books of the Bible in no particular order) and the corresponding verse of the day. So, today for example, I took a look at Hebrews 10.2. I’ll choose the third verse in a different book tomorrow… the fourth verse in a different book the next day and so on. October being the tenth month and using the calendar number for each day of the month gives me a great framework.
Getting back to basics… doing the things we used to do… making soup! bread! soap! and other good things… lighting candles, singing together as a family, working on projects. There truly are so many good things to do there’s no reason to mourn the passing of summer and all that means and fret at the entrance of the next season and all its marvelous possibilities.
There’s a reason for this decision and resulting exercises… and if you have difficulty with changing seasons, low light, cold temps, family changes, etc., etc., you already have an idea what I’m talking about and can easily see why it’s so imperative, so necessary to embrace the day, to take every thought captive, to be renewed daily in the spirit of your mind and to give no place to the devil. I can look back and sincerely say: an idle mind is surely his workshop and a failure to plan is a sure plan to fail.
May the Lord bless you every day of October… and beyond.
ed, note… this letter was saved in drafts and now today’s the 16th [I so needed this today] :
And He took them up in His arms,
put His hands upon them and blessed them.
–Mark 10.16
