By GARY ANDREWS
Editor and Publisher

I recently heard a story of an older gentleman that was moving to a room in a nursing home. His wife of 70 plus years had gone home to be with the Lord and he was of an age that he needed someone around him most of the time.
Upon checking into the home the young employee started explaining how his room would be and the color of the curtains and about the future.
The wise older man told him, “It is already decided in my mind that I like my room.”
The employee answered, “But sir, you haven’t seen your room yet.”
“Happiness is something I choose in advance,” remarked the older gentleman. “Whether or not I like the room does not depend on the furniture, or on the decor, rather it depends on how I decide to see it.”
When each one of us rise up from sleeping in the morning we have a choice of whether we are going to be happy that day or not. The Lord blesses us each time that we can face another day. It is up to us how we choose to spend it.
The new resident at the nursing home told the young employee, “I can choose. I can spend my day in bed enumerating all the difficulties that I have with the parts of my body that no longer work very well or I can get up and give thanks to heaven for those parts that I still have in working order.”
In today’s society all of us are running here and there and accomplishing about one half of what needs to be done. We sometimes don’t think ahead and plan for the future and only look at what’s important, or seems important, at the moment.
God gives us everyday. We don’t do anything to earn it and there is no way we can ever say that we gained a new day for what we have done. This is one reason that we shouldn’t ever put off doing something tomorrow that can be done today, such as visiting a long lost friend, calling your family members and telling them you love them, or maybe, even going to see someone that you may not be getting along with and clear up any differences.
There are some simple guidelines that will help all of us if we will adhere to them. 1. Free your heart from hate. 2. Free your mind from worry. 3. Live simple. 4. Give more. 5. Expect less.
Prayer: Father, You are so good to me and I praise You for everyday of life that You give me. Thank You for Your many blessings and for all of the friends and family that You have allowed me to have. Amen.
Suggested daily Bible readings: Sunday - Matthew 5:43-45; Monday - Proverbs 20:22; Tuesday - Luke 6:35-38; Wednesday - 1 Peter 1:3-5; Thursday - Psalm 31:24; Friday - Mark 9:41; Saturday - Acts 20:35.
Gary Andrews is the author of Encouraging Words: 30-days in God’s Word. To obtain a copy go to his website www.gadevotionals.com