Day By Day- A Weekend Reflection

How was your week? As I look back on mine-- blogging about "Is There Really A Reason?" and the widow of Zarephaeth, it all seems to have a cohesive message and pattern: day by day the Lord is in control. I don't know what a day will hold, but I know his mercies are new every morning and his loving kindness never fails. (Lamentations 3)

On Tuesday at my house I had lunch with eight of the ladies on my street. We've been doing this once a month for over a year now. Everyone brings a dish to share, and since it's usually at my house I always take the liberty to play a little game of conversation starter questions. One of the questions was "What song could be a theme song for your life?"

The following hymn came to my mind. When I was growing up I loved my church so much--First Baptist in Waupaca, Wisconsin. The pastor's wife, Mrs. Reemstma, sang this number one Sunday morning and it's stuck with me ever since. I think she must have mentioned it was written by a young Swedish woman, born out of the tragedy of a boating accident where she saw her own father drown in the 1800's. Mrs. Reemstma was Swedish, too, like the songwriter. And in my childish ways, since I had great-grandparents from Norway, I felt a Scandinavian kinship with her. I remember her strawberry blonde hair, fair complexion, her lovely voice, and the smile on her face from peace that glowed within her while she sang this hymn.

It's a perfect hymn for a Saturday, as you close out this week and lean into the next one. I hope you'll be able to tune out your worries and tune in to the words I've copied for you. They are rich with truth about our Savior God. Have blessed weekend and Lord's Day tomorrow. With God's help this season of suffering won't last forever.

Day by day and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;

Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,

I've no cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best--

Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

 

Ev'ry day the Lord Himself is near me

With a special mercy for each hour;

All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,

He whose name is Counselor and Pow'r.

The protection of His child and treasure

Is a charge that on Himself He laid;

"As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,"

This the pledge to me He made.

 

Help me then in eve'ry tribulation

So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,

That I lose not faith's sweet consolation

Offered me within Thy holy Word.

Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,

E'er to take, as from a father's hand,

One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,

Till I reach the promised land.

photo by Sherry Luttrell