Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
Events have a way of resurfacing in my memory around the same time every year.
It was a year ago this month that I developed sepsis. Rushed to the emergency room in the middle of the night, the doctor said had we gotten there 20 minutes later, I may not have survived. It was quite the scare for a girl thinking she just had a bad case of the flu! But as I think back on that time, I’m flooded with more positive feelings than negative.
From the hospital staff who cared for me, to my daughter who quickly caught a train from Rhode Island to be near. From friends who covered me in prayer and brought meals and strawberry kiwi juice, to a husband who continues to show me unparalleled attentiveness. It’s quite humbling to be the object of such love.
Gratitude for being alive overwhelms me as I think about how each day in the last year might not have been. My chair at family gatherings would have been empty. A 365-day devotional book would not have been published. No beach trip to Cape Hatteras with Chip, no helping my son and daughter-in-law move into a new house, no moments of hysterical laughter watching the antics of my grandson. I view every minute of every day as a cherished gift.
When Jeremiah spoke to the exiles in Babylon he assured them God’s plans included hope and a future. With the assurance they would one day return to their homeland and be established again as a nation, they were to take heart and make the most of their less than ideal circumstances.
Just as the Lord had a plan for Israel, he had a plan for me last February and he has a plan for us today. Friend, I pray you see each day as a gift. I pray you live it to the fullest. No matter what your situation, I pray you will overflow with praise to the God who desires to give you hope and a future. A great day of restoration is coming. Until then, let’s make the most of this treasure called life.