“Never lose an opportunity of seeing anything that is beautiful;
for beauty is God’s handwriting . . . Welcome it and thank God for it as a cup of blessing.”
~ Ralph Emerson

No matter what I said, it didn’t seem to make a difference.

My ten-year-old son, Josh, came home from school, feeling grumpy from the day. There was just too much homework. As he looked into his week and the next, a string of assignments were piled on top of each other.

Poor guy, I felt bad for Josh. But as my husband, Eric, always tells me — what he learned from his first-aid training from his Army days — Step 1. Calm the casualty.

“Everything’s going to be okay. Don’t worry. I’ll help you,”  I tried to reassure him, but Josh was not convinced, looking more discouraged by the minute.

Quite honestly, I started feeling stressed myself. Just thinking about all his different projects was making me feel grumpy inside too. Okay, I told myself. Calm the casualty. Calm the casualty.

“Look, all you have to do is . . .” I proceeded to give him some good advice, to reason his worries away, by giving him time management strategies to get things done.

That’s when things started getting worse.

“You’re making me feel more stressed, Mom!”  Josh was now more overwhelmed than when I began talking to him. Then, I remembered what I learned going through my own season of anxiety. What calmed me wasn’t reasons why I shouldn’t worry or advice to solve my problems.

What brought my soul calm and peace was comfort.  Kindness. Understanding.

Encouragement For Today

“Josh, I’m so sorry you have all this work. It feels impossible, doesn’t it?” I put my hand on his shoulder. Then Josh looked at me — really looked at me for the first time after coming home. “I know how you feel,” I continued. “I felt the same way when I was a kid. I got really frustrated too. Math was the worst.”

For the next few minutes, I told him some stories about the mean teachers I had and the classes that I wish I never had — and threw in some funny stories about how I had a crush on a boy who would always run away from me whenever we played tag.

“Yeah, sometimes, life is just hard in the moment. All you can do is your best. Just do what you can today.”

I held my breath, sending a silent prayer for God to help Josh — and me.

“You really think I’ll be okay?” Josh asked. By God’s grace — the word today gave Josh the encouragement his heart needed to hear.

“Yes.” I hugged Josh close, and I could feel his body and heart relax into my embrace. Then, he picked up his pencil and papers and started his work.

God’s Promise for Today

Today gave Josh just enough comfort that he needed — so he can do just the one thing today.

Don’t worry about tomorrow.
Just do your best for today.
I’ll be with you today.
And I’ll be with you tomorrow.

So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. {Matthew 6:34}

Do not worry about your life . . . Look at the birds of the air . . . Are you not much more valuable than they? . . . See how the flowers of the field grow . . . If that is how God clothes the grass of the field . . . will He not much more clothe you? {Matthew 6:25-30}

Are you grown up like me too? Even though we’re grown up, we still need the sunshine of God’s love, care, and encouragement. We need kindness and understanding.

But how can we get the encouragement?

Sunshine and Vitamins For Our Soul

We can confide in a friend who is a good listener, who can be God’s heart and friend to us.

Another way is something we can do on our own with God: Get some sunshine and enjoy some vitamins for our soul too!

Step outside and let God touch you with the sweetness of what He’s created — the flowers and the birds, the trees and the grass — to remind you of His love and care.

Last week, it officially turned autumn. The beautiful falling leaves remind us that God has season for everything in our lives. He understands.

Sometimes, the best we can do is just our best one day at a time.

Give Yourself Permission

We need to give ourselves permission to just breathe. And simply focus on what we can do today. And nothing beyond that.

Get some sunlight and enjoy the wonderful benefits of sunshine. God made our bodies to respond with sunlight by releasing a burst of seratonin — which is a natural happy hormone — that boosts our mood whenever we are outside in sunshine.

Getting just 5 to 15 minutes of sunshine on your arms, hands, and face can give you enough vitamin D to enjoy the boosting benefits of the sun. By stepping out in sunshine, we also get vitamins for the soul: God’s love for you is found in the beauty in nature. So, enjoy the warmth of the sun today and return re-energized with the peace of God’s presence. God cares for you.

Remember friends, God treasures who you are today.

Not who you can become tomorrow.

You belong to Him.

You are His Beloved.

Pull up a chair.  What boosts your day and encourages you heart, like vitamins for your soul?

How does the word today encourage your heart?

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Written by Bonnie Gray, the Faith Barista, encouragement for your journey, awakening your soul to rest.

Photo credit: Kelly Ishmael

 

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