Little Joys

The Lord turns even our little sorrows into joy...

Last weekend I had to spend yet another beautiful, sunny Saturday going to various open houses for graduation. Now don't get me wrong. With my own daughter crossing the graduation stage Friday night, I rejoice in seeing her and her friends reach this milestone in their lives. It was just that the prospect of having another Saturday so filled that I would not be able to do any yard work, ride bikes with the kids, or read leisurely made me, well, a bit grumpy. So as I climbed into the car with my wife and three of my teenagers to head to Lafayette, I had that same low energy, frustrated, angst feeling I get when I have to go clothes shopping (which thankfully because of a wife whose patience is vast and whose care for me is heroic I have not had to do for several years). Yes, I had nothing less than a sinful, selfish attitude.

However, throughout the day the Lord used means to pour grace upon grace on me. Listening to the excitement of my children on seeing their friends and to Trevor joke in good spirits with his sisters on the car ride made my smile return. Watching eight young people receive their diplomas from their parents and hearing Jared Olivetti speak on the value of God's Word in their lives made my eyes tear up. Recruiting another dad to help coach the home school basketball team made my growing concern for the program relieved. Fellowshipping with other friends through the day made my heart thankful.

Yet it was Lindsay sitting on a container of yogurt that made my day. Somehow the yogurt, packed as a snack for the drive, ended up on the seat and Lindsay sat on it. She was not aware of this fact until she got out of the car and found a wet spot on the back of her skirt. Watching her sister and mother help her wipe it off was funny enough. But finding out the name on the squished yogurt container caused the outburst of laughter.

The name? Yoplait's "Fruit on the Bottom."

All I can say is that when I returned home that evening, I was a happy, singing man once again, which I had not believed possible when I was looking ahead to the day. The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease and are new each day. So who knows? If this keeps up, I may even ask Miriam to go shopping for clothes.