Lessons Learned from My Sickness Part 8: Live One Day at a Time
By Pastor Ronny Luces
In the past, I used to look at this statement as only a cliché or an often repeated slogan.
I held my point of view for so long to look at life from its strategic or long-term perspective.
I led many associations, groups, church congregations, community-based people’s organizations to formulate strategic plans and identify long-term targets and goals.
I am not comfortable in looking at life as only a daily experience.
For me, the proper way of facing life’s challenges and appreciating it’s myriad and mysterious potentials was to be forward-looking, always thinking about tomorrow, and bracing myself for the future.
My sickness brought me down to reality.
No wonder Christ said in Matthew 6:34, Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.
I discovered that ‘living one day at a time’ is the essence of a meaningful experience. It is not routinary, nor it offers only a meaningless repetition.
Each day is NEW. Have you noticed it?
There’s nothing yesterday that’s exactly repeated today.
The sun that rises is the same but it shines differently.
The chirping of the birds is new; the breeze that gently blows its life-giving oxygen is new. The warm company of loved ones is new.
So learn to appreciate each new day with its many potentials.
Learn to focus on things around you or you will miss many beautiful encounters.
As Lamentation 3:22-23 says, “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are NEW every morning; great is thy faithfulness.”
Have a blessed day everyone!
Posted on FB: 5 March 2015 – 1:00 PM
About the Author
Rev. Ronny Luces was the Minister for Administration and Community Service of the Jaro Evangelical Church (JEC), Iloilo City, Philipines. He and his wife, Martha have been with JEC’s ministry since 1994.
Pastor Ronny graduated from Central Philippine University College of Theology in 1985 and was pastor of several Baptist churches.
In January 2015, after tests and two long hospital confinements, Pastor Ronny got the word he had lung cancer. He underwent chemotherapy.
Praying for healing and going through all the medical processes, Pastor Ronny wrote his reflections “Lessons Learned from My Sickness”. In July 2015, he passed away.
May Pastor Ronny’s series of reflections and meditations strengthen your hope and faith as you go through your own life’s battles.
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