January 2, 2015 (Friday)
Today is January 2. Unless it’s your birthday, anniversary, or some other special day in your personal life or your family’s life, it’s an ordinary day. December 31? A banner day, because it’s New Year’s Eve, when we say goodbye to the old and hello to the new. January 1? Now there’s a day–a day of new beginnings, a special day for all. But January 2? An ordinary day. If it wasn’t Friday, it would be “back to work” day for a huge number of people who will still be enjoying a holiday weekend. Granted, many will be back to work today, breaking the ice for the multitudes to follow.
Ordinary. Except for a small percentage of people on this planet, most of us probably fall into that category. Perhaps a better word is, “normal.” That word may fitly describe most of the seven billion people on this earth (a number that grows by the minute).
Lincoln reportedly said, “God must have loved the common man; he made so many of them.” So if I’m only normal, not particularly well-known or famous, filling my slot in life and getting along fairly well with others, I am just like most people on earth. That’s not so bad. In fact, that’s pretty good.
You see, we all have a choice. With little effort, we could fall in with a bad crowd and end up in jail. But most of us choose to behave ourselves, get along with others, and try to be productive citizens.
So, Jan 2, you are normal. Perhaps ordinary. But there will be many days just like you in 2015. It will be up to me to make you and the others like you into extraordinary days. While I was shopping this week, I saw a lady struggling to reach a shelf from her motorized cart, so I asked if I could help. I could. When I handed her the item, she took a look at me and said, “You go to my church!” Know what? Her reaction brightened my day. A common day became uncommon. At least temporarily. What can I do to have better days? Probably smile more than I do. Help somebody if I can. Say an encouraging word to somebody that needs it (and don’t we all?).
Hey there, 2015–you with the armful of ordinary days, I’m gonna do my best to relieve you of them, and see if I can help change them to extraordinary days. I think the Lord would like that.
(Click title to listen)
IF I CAN HELP SOMEBODY
If I Can Help Somebody If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody, with a word or song,
If I can show somebody, how they’re traveling wrong,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Chorus:
My living shall not be in vain,
Then my living shall not be in vain
If I can help somebody, as I pass along,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
If I can do my duty, as a good man ought,
If I can bring back beauty, to a world up wrought,
If I can spread love’s message, as the Master taught,
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Alma Bazel Androzzo