The Valley of Death Take No Thought for Tomorrow

The Valley of Death

Take No Thought for Tomorrow

 

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Don’t let the worries of tomorrow empty you of today’s strength

“If I would have worried about the inevitable I will miss out on all moments,

the blessing of the days leading up to the inevitable.” Mike Self

Take No Thought for Tomorrow

Worry will not add to the length of your life.

When my brother was told his wife had pancreatic cancer,

 he, like all of us, was filled with emotion.

When those words by the doctor were spoken,

life changed like a light burning

out in the middle of the night.

We all know we will die but somehow we

find ways to not think about it until some

reality comes that reminds us of that day.

For my brother, the thoughts of his wife suffering,

the loss of his best friend, the empty house,

and even the change to the finances that

paid the bills all plagued his mind.

  

It was interesting watching my brother

handle this major crisis in his life.

At one point in the journey,

 he was talking to a pastor friend.

Mike said to Pastor Jim…

 “I cannot worry about the day my wife will die,

the inevitable will happen, if I worry I will

miss out on the moments along the way.”

Through the six months journey,

my brother focused on the moments.

There were more moments than you could count.

Each day had moments, moments that put

a smile on your face, warmed your heart,

and made you feel your life had meaning.

The bitterness and reality of the

inevitable was real and overwhelming.

Each day Mike focused on

making every moment a joy.

It wasn’t easy, but it was fulfilling.

As I watched Mike, I was proud

of the way he handled things.

Walking with him I found myself like a

coach saying, “Mike you are doing a great job”.

I would say this not because it sounded good,

but because he was making the most of the moments.

Also all of us need encouragement

when we are doing a good job.

As he made the most of the moments,

his wife was comforted and found great peace,

his children and grandchildren also found

 peace because it was like it was contagious.

Focusing on the moments

increased his faith in God.

He began to get more out of his daily

devotional time than ever before.

Gratefulness filled his heart.

 He saw God was giving him small manageable treasures

every step of the way that should not be taken for granted.

A friend of mine saw a woman pick

up a nickel in a parking lot.

 He stopped the lady and asked why

she did not pick up the pennies.

She said with a ting of arrogance in her voice,

 “I do not pick up pennies”.

 He said to her there are 6 pennies that is

worth more than the nickel you picked up.

At that point my friend picked up the 6 pennies

and walked away richer than the woman.

You will find more pennies in the street

than dollars, quarters, dines and nickels.

The pennies will always add up to more

than the other coins because too many

people don’t care about the pennies.

 

Maybe there is some truth to

the saying “pennies from heaven”.

  

It takes effort to pick up pennies…

 To take the moments in life to

be a blessing and give thanks.

But in giving there is a promise of receiving.

 

When the end came and Judy went to

be with the Lord, Mike had no regrets.

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow,

for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Don’t let the worries of tomorrow

empty you of today’s strength.

 

Scripture Reading

Matthew 6:26-34 NIV

27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.