the thought is, that each day is, in a certain sense, a complete life by itself. it has its own duties, its own trials, its own burdens, and its own needs. it has enough to fill heart and hands for the one full day. we cannot live its life well, and use any of its strength outside of itself. the very best we can do for any day, for the perfecting of our life as a whole, is to live the one day well. we should put all our thought and energy and skill into the duty of each day, wasting no strength, either in grieving over yesterday’s failures, or in anxiety about tomorrow’s responsibilities.

i have seen this excerpt by j.r. miller pop up here and there in the past few weeks and went on the hunt for the full article.  what a meaningful reminder – and i need it daily.  and isn’t it freeing to live life this way?  one day at a time.  relying on the manna from above to sustain us.  the daily supply that is new each morning.  we don’t need to hoard or fret about tomorrow.  each day we are given just what we need to make it through.  our focus should be to live the one day well.  put all our thought and energy and skill into the duty of each day.  live it fully.  pour ourselves out.  leave nothing behind.  and soak up all the goodness.

i have been so inspired by my little miss elinor.  she makes me consider my hours.  what am i spending my time on?  am i present?  am i giving it my all?  or am i wasting time or blowing my hours thinking about the next thing while i should be engaged and enjoying what God has given me now.  she wakes up and greets each day with a smile, ready to get going.  she savors her meals.  she plays and observes and engages until she has nothing left and then she rests to regain the strength needed to do it all again.  she doesn’t waste her days.  she is always learning or trying something new.  she doesn’t consider yesterday’s failures – she just does it again until she gets it.  she doesn’t worry about the future - potty training, learning to read, social pressure, school, performance, appearance – she just takes it moment by moment.  this, this is faith like a child.  not a license to be immature in our belief, but relying on our savior for our needs moment by moment.  accepting His daily supply and then living the one day well.  our Christian walk becomes a series of victorious days that are strung together into a pattern of progress.  perfecting the little things in life so that our life becomes characterized by those holy things. living the one day well.  day by day.

would you look at that little blonde drooly-puss?

speaking of miss elinor…let me just gush for a bit about my baby girl and her recent actions that have just wowed and delighted her mama and papa:

• her 4th percentile body can hold up her 66th percentile head like a champ
• she is scooting and wiggling around like a little caterpillar
• she responds to her reflection
• she flips from tummy to back as often as possible, unless she is in the mood to just chill on her tummy
• she had her first big time giggle-fest yesterday {be still my heart…cutest thing i have ever heard} guess what did it?  swaying around with her and doing a goofy mama jiggle dance {choreography} while singing “skinamarinky dinky dink”