The Daily Grind-The Beauty of Life-Day 17- Proverbs 17

Let's talk about a special gift: today.... this right now life... as you read this pause for 1 second and ponder what a miracle you are in right now... today is a SPECIAL day.

Of course, every single person on the planet will experience something different today. Throughout life, there will be a myriad of people, pressures, and circumstances- a marathon journey to a day of destiny.

If you look at the average life it seems that God ordains a pattern for us: some days of darkness, some unforgettable days of miraculous joy, and a lot of just 'ordinary' days. I could develop all of these ideas more- how the dark days come upon us like an ambush and the memory of those days come like sneak attacks, how the beautiful days make us feel so alive and full of joy and hope.

But I want to spend a little time on the 'normal, ordinary, nothing notable' days. Those are still special days- if every day was a dark day we would eventually dry up and die- if everyday was a super special day, we would have the bar raised too high to actually enjoy those golden moments- the average day is that pace in between the moments of despair and delight.

Chapter 17 in Proverbs are little dittys that encompass the daily grind- this is life. Some homes of happiness, some of strife-paupers and princes- evil and good- old and young- crime and character- communication and debate- gain and loss- wise and foolish-

The challenge is to not waste these days- can you squeeze out the marrow in the routine?

Coach Bryant used to carry around a little poem in his pocket- he read it to us a few times as well:

“This is the beginning of a new day.
God has given me this day to use as I will.
I can waste it or use it for good.
What I do today is very important because I am exchanging a day of my life for it.
When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever.
Leaving something in its place I have traded for it.
I want it to be a gain, not loss – good, not evil.
Success, not failure in order that I shall not forget the price I paid for it.”

Let's look at a few of the daily life verses in Ch 17:
Verse 1 "Better a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife"- huge reminder about loving people and not things. Think about this when you have career chances that may put your marriage or time with children in jeopardy. Live with less and love more.


vs 6 "Grandchildren are the crown of the aged" this is one of my prayer requests- I want the Lord to allow me health and energy to love my grandchildren- it is in His hands and I am in NO RUSH.


vs 9 "Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends" I immediately think about I Corinthians 13 where true love is willing to overlook faults- but the main point to me here is to think about the harm of gossip. Anonymous internet postings and wild argumentative criticism is symptomatic of our out of control habit of gossip. This is a much bigger sin in the church than we even realize and it provides a harmful environment for Satan's demons of whisper campaigns. I am going to try and even be better at NOT passing bad info.


Finally, I have always loved vs 22 "A joyful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones"- First it is true- depression and stress does have physical consequences- but it energizes me to be an encourager to others- Wayne Bratcher always says- BE CHEERFUL.




I have tweaked the categories a little more- here is my working list:

• Character/Deeds in the Marketplace

• Problem of Pride

• Attitudes of the Heart

• Stewardship and Management of Money

• The Daily Life: Triviality- Turmoil-Tragedy- Triumph

• The Good Neighbor

• The Tongue

• Family- Marriage and Parenting

• The Fruit of a Fool: Attributes/Attitudes/Actions

• The Crown of Wisdom

Have a GREAT DAY- Be thankful- Be loving- Acknowledge the Creator- Serve- ENJOY!
And if it goes south- STAND FIRM-

This is the beautiful daily grind!