About seventeen years ago, my husband and I began a practice we learned from my parents. My dad died in 1998, but during his final weeks and days I watched as he and Mom started their day with a greeting and response. One would say, “This is the day the Lord has made,” and the other would respond, “Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” And then an interesting thing happened. After Dad died, Mom continued the practice. She would wake up and look at a photograph of my dad and say, “This is the day the Lord has made.” And after a brief pause, she would say Dad’s part, “Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Because she believed he was still with her. And I do, too.
I woke up this morning thinking about that, when my husband gave me our greeting and I replied and then he kissed me good morning. I don’t always say my morning prayers. And I rarely take time during the day to read the Scriptures. Sometimes I might read something spiritual, but usually I’m reading fiction or memoir or poetry. All that to say that it’s pretty easy to go through an entire day without thinking about God. Without including Him in my life. Without an awareness of His presence. Except that I’m reminded of Him first thing when I hear that greeting from my husband. What a gift.