Things We Won’t Take for Granted in the Future

“Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!” (Luke 12:27-28, NRSV)

“When this is over, may we never again take for granted:

• A Handshake with a Stranger

• Full Shelves at the Store

• Conversations with Neighbors

• A Crowded Theatre

• Friday Night Out

• The Taste Of Communion

• A Routine Checkup

• The School Rush each Morning

• Coffee with a Friend

• The Stadium Roaring

• Each Deep Breath

• A Boring Tuesday

• Life Itself

When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, we hoped to be, and may we stay that way — better for each other, because of the worst.”

Many of you may have already seen this poem by author, speaker, and syndicated columnist Laura Kelly Fanucci, but someone share it with me today and I wanted to pass it on to you for your comfort and inspiration.  It has already been shared several hundred-thousand times on Facebook and Instagram, and I pray that you are touched by it as I was.

While its words do not explicitly promote Christian faith, I believe its sentiments certainly parallel those of Jesus in the scripture reading from Luke 12 (above). There, he is reminding his followers not to take for granted God’s presence in the gifting of even what may seem to be the simple, ordinary things around them, and therefore to trust Him to take care of us in the midst of anything more than that, as well. May we all do the same!

Remember that God loves you and I do, too!

NOTE: Fanucci herself is a devout Roman Catholic Christian, and you can read more about her at her website HERE).  Also, for more details about the story behind this poem, read HERE.

P.S. Don't forget to join me at McKendree UMC for online worship at 10:30am each Sunday HERE