Psalm 118:24 “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
“These are great days.” – Winston Churchill This quote was originally taken from a speech Prime Minister Churchill gave when he visited the Harrow School on 29 October 1941. It came from a verse the students had added to one of the school songs in honor of the Prime Minister. Britain had been in the throes of World War II for over two years. The Nazis had invaded most of Europe including Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, and France. Italy had declared war on Britain. It was not until 8 December 1941 after the Pearl Harbor attacks when the US declared war on Japan. Germany declared war against the U.S. three days later. Great Britain did not receive help via American ground forces until 26 January 1942…3 months after Winston Churchill had the optimism to declare that they were in the midst of “great days!”
I came across this quote on a magnet for sale at a Barnes & Noble bookstore near the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After spending 22+ hours in my son’s hospital room, I took a brief reprieve to grab a shower and refresh myself for another night beside his crib. The magnet struck me as very true – I was living a great day. Yes, Austin was in the hospital…but he was stable. Yes, I was exhausted and achy after spending countless nights on a small plastic couch, but I also had respite – an hour’s nap in a cool, dark, hotel room. Yes, this was not the ideal situation, but God had been good to us and our son in spite of the difficult realities of life. There is always something good, even great, to be found, even if it is only that the much needed cup of coffee after a long night tastes good.
That memento now hangs on our refrigerator; a constant reminder that if I could feel and find hope and goodness during a difficult hospital day, I can face whatever life holds for me each day and rejoice that the Lord granted me another sunrise.