Friends
This is the day The Lord has made! Will you rejoice and be glad in it?
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“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NKJV
Just the sound of his voice brought a smile to my face, but when we came face-to-face in the linoleum-lined hallway, my smile would invariably spread into a wide grin. It wasn’t just me who felt lighter in his presence. He had that effect on everyone he met.
On my daily trek to collect a large cup of sweet tea to jump-start my day, I would hear him coming down the hallway, a skip in his step despite his age. I could hear his cheery laugh as he greeted each passerby, one after another employee taking a momentary pause in their scurried pace to greet him. Like me, they counted on his morning dose of encouragement.
He wasn’t a large man, probably only 5’5” or so, but his impact on people was huge. A touch of gray streaked his wiry brown hair, but his chocolate skin was ageless, save for the laugh lines that bracketed his mouth. There was a twinkle in his dark brown eyes that never seemed to dull, tiny creases bordering those dancing eyes like exclamation points of joy.
I was prepared by the time his slender frame drew close enough to speak. Flashing my best smile his way, I called out, “How are you, Mr. Brown?”
Bringing his cart filled with fluorescent light bulbs to a halt, he released his trademark chuckle, and then followed up with, “Another day above ground. Must be good!”
It was the same every day, that greeting. It never changed, day upon day, year after year, winter or summer, spring or fall. That gleeful greeting wasn’t just for me. It was for everyone, every day, without fail.
It wasn’t for show, not a practiced perfunctory response. No, joy was in that greeting. Joy flowed from that gentle man like the rushing of a waterfall.
It wasn’t that Mr. Brown’s life was free of problems. Quite the contrary. Although I never knew him well personally, I learned that he was raising a great grandson, a young boy still in elementary school. Nearing age 80, he was still working, whether for financial reasons or simply because he loved being with people. He had worked in several capacities over his long tenure with the hospital, before transitioning to a job in Environmental Services. He was put in charge of changing the fluorescent light bulbs that dotted the hospital ceilings. It was a perfect job for him, responding to calls for a burned-out light, or roaming the hallways looking for lights in need of replacement. In those daily rounds, he did more than change light bulbs, he spread his special gift of joy.
I didn’t know Mr. Brown well, but I instinctively knew that he loved The Lord. I could see it in his smile. I could see it in his work. He role modeled the words of Ephesians 6:7 perfectly, “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people” (NLT).
Certainly, Mr. Brown had problems in his life. I imagine he had some hard days. No doubt he experienced moments of despair. Yet, one thing I am quite sure of is that every morning with the sunrise, Mr. Brown chose joy. As he threw off the covers and readied himself for the day, he chose to proclaimed the words of Psalm 118:24, “This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it” (NKJV).
What I noticed from my passing view was that Mr. Brown lived joyful. His joy was contagious. People preach with words, but Mr. Brown preached with attitude. There was an overflowing wellspring of joy in that man that washed over everyone he met on his daily rounds.
There is a reason the Apostle Paul admonished us to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4, NIV). Paul invited us to lift up our burdens in prayer and petition, but notice that he did not end his directions there. He added, “with thanksgiving,” and those two simple words have powerful implications (Philippians 4:6). We are welcome to carry our pain and problems to God, but we are meant to do so with a posture of thankfulness. A thankful heart is a vessel for joy, and a spirit of joy can transform our days from merely existing to thriving..
It’s been many years since I passed Mr. Brown in the hospital hallway, but I haven’t forgotten his merry chuckle, and neither has my husband. Eric often responds to the typical “Hey, how are you?”acknowledgement following Mr. Brown’s example. I think it’s Eric’s way of reminding himself to adopt a gratitude attitude, regardless of current circumstances. Whenever I hear my husband repeat those well-worn words, my face breaks out in a smile.
That greeting remains a powerful reminder to choose joy, always, habitually, continually, from here to eternity. Whether clouds cover the sky, or bright sunshine warms our shoulders, choose joy. Live it, claim it, proclaim it!
Friends, it’s “Another day above ground. Must be good!”
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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
Psalm 118:1 – NIV
PRAYER
O Sweet Jesus, You are our joy., our peace, our hope. In You, we find our comfort and our strength. Teach us to welcome each new day with a thankful heart. May we choose joy, today and always. For Lord, You are good, and Your steadfast love endures forever.
In the Joyous Name of Jesus, we [pray,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
-APS 2/17/2025
Faith Beyond Sight 