Today is a Treasure

by Tim LaVere
(West Branch, Michigan)

Many years ago, when my mother-in-law was going through a rough time, I picked up a book for her that was simple, yet thought-provoking. It was no more than a long list of items that made the author happy. Page after page was filled with things like, "a sunset... a vanilla ice cream cone... talking a walk in the park..." It seems the author had learned to find joy in the little things that surround us.

I remember the first day I watched from the front window as my little boy boarded the school bus. I had always worked early mornings, and for the first couple years he attended school, I had never enjoyed the simple pleasure of watching him get on the bus. By then it was routine to his mom, but that day holds a special place in my heart. And really, shouldn't every day be filled with opportunities like that? I like to store those pictures in my memory bank. They're a great reminder that Jesus came so we could have life, and have it more abundantly! Why do we work so hard at finding ways to complicate it?

Many of us have big dreams for ourselves and our families. There are places we want to see, things we want to accomplish. Some of us have visions that seem impossible to everyone else. So we work hard. And we push hard. We're constantly looking toward tomorrow, taking another step toward that dream. Now don't get me wrong, I think dreams are fantastic. I have a lot of things I want to get done. God's not through with me yet by a long shot!

But in the meantime, I want to enjoy today.

God's Word says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own" (Matthew 6:34, NIV). Wow, isn't that the truth? We can find ourselves so wrapped up in what is to come, that we fail to see what is right in front of us right now!

A beautiful sunrise. Getting caught in a chilly rain. A deer grazing in the field. Laughing so hard that we cry. They're all little treasures from God meant to help us make the most of our days.

I don't know about you, but I don't need a million dollar mansion to be happy. Besides, our real treasure lies in heaven, anyway. Every day we're surrounded by opportunities to write another page for our memory banks. Take a look around today and you're sure to see, even in the darkest of days, a treasure or two that God has placed in your life. His little treasures are worth more than anything we'll ever create on our own.