The Sacred
Today’s church service. On this grey and dreary day, one after which I haven’t had enough sleep (thanks to our dog who woke me up in the middle of the night!) — all of which might normally drag me down — church lifted me up. Not just the service, but the people — the people greeting us with sincere smiles and kind words and the upbeat energy of the place itself. It’s contagious. Nate enjoying his first Sunday school class, me enjoying mine. Us sitting by our fairly new friends and neighbors. Nate taking their 3-year-old daughter, A, by the hand up to front of the church for the Children’s Message, a significant step because it was the first time he went to the Children’s Message without me. Not only that, but he escorted A to Junior Church afterwards and did that for the first time without me taking him there. A’s mother K was going to take them to the room where Junior Church was being held, and Nate said to K, like a little gentleman, “That’s OK, I’ll take her down.” Be still, my heart, and K’s too. Then Nate must have hugged A six times before we left church today. It all swelled my heart with joy.

And that’s not all. That’s. Not. All. How often do you actually hurriedly look for a pen to write down something that the preacher says? Well, maybe you do that more often than I do, but I typically just listen; I’m not a note-taker during sermons at all. But today I just had to write down the final sentence of the sermon:

Love and compassion extend to all.

Words that I need to be reminded of daily. Words that, dare I say, many need to be reminded of daily.

The Mundane
Buying a Spider Man play tent today for Nate, which he loves and had me put on his bed. He let me in it, too! Well, as much of me as could fit in since it’s really a tent for kids. He plans to sleep in it. He’s such a fun, fun-loving kid. And me? Noooo, I’m not going to sleep in it, but yes, at my best, I’ll admit, I’m a fun, fun-loving kid. Just a really big kid.

Aside from the pre-church tantrum (Nate’s, not mine), we’ve had a good day. Tonight I meet three good friends for a long overdue Girls’ Night Out which is typically a rollicking good time.

This is a good day. A day for Simple Joys. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring, but for today, I will Thank The Good Lord for these Simple Joys. Church. An adorable little 3-year-old girl, A, who has stolen my son’s heart. His other new friends at church. My new friends at church (this is a pretty new church for us and the people have just embraced us). A good sermon, one that made me think. Good-hearted sincere people who have the true spirit of Christ in their hearts. And last, but not least, a Spiderman play tent .

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