Last week my son Eli turned 11. I was on the road so we celebrated before I left. As a family, we tried to make it as special as we could, realizing that I wouldn’t be home on his exact birthday. I woke up really missing him and even feeling guilty that I was away working. I called him continually and we kept texting back and forth. (He got a cell phone for his birthday.) When I called him for the umpteenth time to once again say “Happy Birthday” and goodnight, I asked him how his day was. He said, “Dad, it was the awesome!” He was exhausted from a full day of partying with his Mom, brother, Aunt, and cousins. He was so excited about all of the calls, facebook messages and texts he received on his new phone. He even got to play street hockey with his big brother and the older boys in the neighborhood. Not once did Eli mention anything about my absence. He truly “made the best” of his day.

I once heard, “life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. We’ve all been through difficult times. You might be going through a trial right now. But if you take careful inventory, you may realize that there are a lot of things that are working out in your favor. For one, you’re alive. You can read. You woke up this morning and have the opportunity to live a new day. There’s potential in you to do what God’s called you to do. You have abilities, gifts and talents that can help someone else. Many times, the difference between being discouraged and living a fulfilled life is taking what you have and “making the best of it”!

James 1:2-3: Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well developed, not deficient in any way. (Message Bible)

A couple of Sundays ago, we had the opportunity to lead worship at a great church in Orlando, Florida. Between services I met a lady who had a beautiful smile but I could tell she was not physically well. She was battling cancer with a report from her doctor that she had 2 months to live. With tears in her eyes she told me, “When I walked in the service today you all were singing my favorite song. Thank you so much for making today a special day for me.” I had the privilege to pray with her. When the next service started, thousands of people were in attendance but I couldn’t help but notice the lady I’d just met. She stayed back to hear “Draw me close” again. As soon as we began to sing the chorus, she walked up to the front all by herself, knelt at the altar and worshipped. It’s a moment I’ll never forget.

If she could do it, so can you. “Make the best of today.” “Make the most of your life.”
You only get one shot!

Joe