As I write this, I have over 25,000 yesterdays for which to be thankful! Obviously it would be too much to explore all 25,000 – but to generalize –
- Yesterday I was a daughter, a sister, growing up in a loving home, protected, comforted, encouraged, and challenged. I’m particularly grateful for my mom’s gift of hospitality – it’s her gift that helps me welcome others in my home today.
- Yesterday I was a student, receiving instruction, being shaped by knowledge. So many teachers spoke into my life – they shaped the teacher I would become. I’m grateful for their examples.
- Yesterday I was a mom of little boys – who are now grown up with little boys of their own. I laughed, cried, fussed – I was tired, overwhelmed, and happy. Those years with littles shape my life as a grandmother – the joy of sticky fingers, sweet hugs, and precious moments of play.
- Yesterday I was an educator, offering instruction, opening the doors of knowledge for others. Those years in schools have deepened my compassion for the challenges some experience in learning.
- Yesterday I was a wife, friend, pastor’s wife, mentor – on a journey in community. Walking in community has spoken amazing kindnesses in my life.
- Yesterday I experienced messes, criticism, even failure – those have deepened my empathy for others who struggle, and helped me appreciate my small successes.
My yesterdays inform today!
I love the pictures in the Old Testament where the men of old used stones for remembering.
The book of Samuel describes several skirmishes between the Israelites and the Philistines. The Lord thundered, throwing the Philistines into a panic, and they were routed … and the Israelites saved. In 1 Samuel 7, Samuel marks the win with a stone: Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.” (1 Samuel 7:12) I’m reminded of this verse every time we sing, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing …
Here I raise my Ebenezer,
Robert Robinson
Hither by Thy help I’ve come;
And I hope by Thy good pleasure
Safely to arrive at home.
And then again in chapter 4 of Joshua – after crossing the sea –
4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
Joshua 4:4 – 7
It’s good to recount our blessings, to remember our yesterdays!
