This morning I woke up early to leave the house for a doctor’s appointment at Baptist Medical Center. It is something I don’t really enjoy doing. I don’t enjoy waking up early. I don’t enjoy going to the doctor. I don’t enjoy driving on the cross town expressway to get to the doctor. I don’t enjoy the traffic on I-44 at that time of the morning. I really don’t enjoy sitting in a waiting room. But this morning I decided on my way across town, as I was watching the rain move in from the northwest, that I had a choice to make. I could not like all the things which were going to get my day started off poorly, or I could enjoy whatever was in store for me this morning. I decided to enjoy whatever was going to happen in this day.

When I arrived at the lab so they could draw blood I ran into two ladies sitting behind the desk who were very pleasant and had obviously made the choice to make it a good day. I was quickly called back to the back to get the blood drawn and met another lady who was singing to the radio and had chosen to make a great day of it. I love interacting with people who are joyful. As I left the laboratory I went to the cafeteria for a cup of coffee and ran into a cashier who invited me into the employee line because no one was in that line. It is amazing how very small things can turn your day either good or bad. As I made it back upstairs to wait in the waiting room I encountered four people. One man was fast asleep sitting upright in a chair. I’m not sure how long he had been there but he appeared to be resting well. An older couple was waiting patiently. He was reading a magazine and she was knitting something. And finally a lady who appeared to be in her 70s was playing a game on her cell phone. Ok, it still seems kind of odd when I see someone in their 70’s playing a game on their phone. I don’t know why, it just does.

I took care of answering some emails on my phone, made a couple of calls that needed to be made in then set in for some good people watching. With each new person coming off the elevator, you could tell by their walk, talk, and demeanor what kind of day they had chosen to have that day. There were those who obviously worked in a hospital who were just fulfilling the requirements of work. There were others who genuinely seemed to really enjoy the work they had been charged with that day. There were a few who definitely looked like they needed to see a doctor, and quickly! And then there were those who obviously didn’t feel well but were trying to make the best out of whatever was happening.

All this to say, I really think we need to take stock in making the choice every morning to have a good day or not! If I were to ask you first thing in the morning if you wanted to have a good day, I bet most people would answer yes. And yet, we allow little things to distract and take away from what could be a magnificent day. I know there will be times when your day goes awry and seems nothing is going to work out right. We can combat those days and many more with the simple decision to make things good no matter what comes our way.

Joshua faces this same kind of decision when in the 24th chapter he declares, “Choose then who you will serve.” Things had not necessarily been going well. People were choosing to follow other more desirable things. It seemed easier to take the road which was wide and smooth. Joshua declared, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Then the test came when Joshua reminded the people that in making a choice we must live to the choice. It takes courage to choose to have a good day. It may mean looking beyond the faults of others. Admitting we are not capable of doing it on our own. Making a decision that at the end of the day we will let go of the things that we have no power to control and starting fresh again with God the next day.

Respond to this blog with the things that cause your days to go wrong and set you on the wrong path. How would choosing to have a great day and walking with God throughout the day change some of the things which affect your life? Share with us those things that really aren’t that important that get you started on the wrong foot. I bet we are much more alike than we are different. Then choose to have a great day!!

On the journey together,
Kirk