New Each Morning

“Every day is a new beginning. Treat it that way. Stay away from what might have been, and look at what can be.” ~ Marsha Petrie Sue

“Stop picking at your little Sister”, “leave your Brother alone”, had been my mantras of the day. Now my head was pounding and patience was running thin. It was almost time for Hubby to get home and I had begun my daily ritual of thinking about what to feed everyone, when the doorbell rang. I opened the front door to find two scruffy looking individuals with clipboards in their hands. I didn’t even let them utter a single word, when I blurted out, “we’re not interested”, then rudely slammed the door as hard as I could in their faces. Both kids just stood there in shock, mouth and eyes wide open. “The nerve of them”, I thought to myself, can’t they see we have a “No Soliciting” sign at the entrance to our neighborhood. I peeked out the blinds and saw them make their way to my neighbors home, which confirmed my suspicions about them.

Later that evening I laid my head on my pillow, snuggled between crisp bed linens, and inhaled the pleasant scent of freshly washed sheets. Closing my eyes, I tried my best to fall asleep, but the mistakes I had made that day kept nudging at me, especially the door slamming incident. What if those solicitors were Jesus in disguise? Would it have hurt for me to listen to them for a few short moments then politely excuse myself? I wasn’t acting Christ like or setting a good example for my children. Urgh, I was really a big time jerk!

“God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.” ~ Lamentations 3:22-23/The Message

I prayed to God and repented, when I was reminded of that verse in Lamentations. I thanked God that each day is a new beginning, a chance to do right in His eyes. Despite my failures of the day, I can try to do better tomorrow. The thought that I can’t out sin his love brought me peace and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

Aren’t you thankful we serve a forgiving and compassionate God and that His mercies are new every morning?

6 Responses to New Each Morning
  1. Susanne
    January 4, 2007 | 2:31 am

    That is my favorite verse and I sure rely on it and am so, so thankful for it!

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  3. Valerie
    January 4, 2007 | 12:30 pm

    Paula, I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve slammed the door on a “solicitor”, too. And then, promptly felt guilty about it. I think it has something to do with feeling intruded upon in our own home. Your point is very well taken – what IF they had been Jesus in disguise? I will remember that the next time some people appear at my front door! thanks!

  4. Jennifer, Snapshot
    January 4, 2007 | 6:09 pm

    Yes, I am so thankful. Otherwise, I’d live in a state of defeat every single day. As it is, I can know that I can confess and repent and be washed white as snow.

  5. Vicki
    January 5, 2007 | 4:06 pm

    Ah, yes, His mercies are new every morning. Isn’t that good? Thanks for pointing us to Him, Paula. We’ve all blown it. We’ve all needed His grace.

    hugs,
    Vicki

  6. Janice (5 Minutes for Mom)
    January 5, 2007 | 9:46 pm

    Oh yes – I am so grateful!!

    It is hard having little ones watching us, learning from everything we do. But when we mess up, I think it still teaches them when we explain that we made a mistake and that we are sorry. Our response to our mistakes is a good learning lesson for them too.