Thought for the Day – Friday 22nd May
Yes, it is Friday again! Friday Fun is at the end of the post and here
are some more wise words from Proverbs for you to mull over – using the Message
Translation this week!
‘If you wake your friend in the
early morning by shouting “Rise and Shine!” it will sound to him more like a
curse than a blessing.’ (27: 14)
‘The loafer says, “There’s a lion
on the loose! If I go out I’ll be eaten alive!”’ (22: 13)
Wise words from Proverbs indeed!
When in this ‘Lockdown’, unless you are still out and about at your
workplace, it seems that the days all merge together and you actually have to
work quite hard at times to even remember what day of the week it is let alone
when it is the weekend - although I have to say I do find preparing this little
thought for the day for you each day certainly helps me in that respect because
I have to put the day and date on the post!
I have to say though, while watching the rerun of Downtown Abbey the
other night I loved the retort of Dame Maggie Smith’s character at one point
when someone used the word ‘weekend’ and she in her upper class accent asked
‘What is a weekend?’ It made me think that perhaps when you do not go out to
work and all your days have the same pattern to them, as hers did, that perhaps
the concept of a ‘weekend’ would not be one you would know. It made me think
too that perhaps we in this time of ‘Lockdown’, with no church to attend on a
Sunday and no real regular pattern to our week might also be finding it hard to
distinguish a weekday from the weekend!
Hence my choice of Proverbs today!
As the days of our confinement go on it does become a little harder to
keep to routines and many of you have spoken to me of lying a little longer in
bed in the mornings and of finding yourselves making all sort of excuses not to
do things or even to go out for your walks some days – although I am sure there
are no prowling lions in our communities so don’t be using that excuse if you
happen to be feeling lazy one day – and certainly don’t be shouting at anyone
who wakes you up earlier than you wish, especially if they are trying to wake
you up after noon!!
I know ‘Lockdown’ is getting harder for us all the longer it goes on
and even though we know we are following the rules for the good of all we can
at times lose sight of the aim of all this isolation. Sadly, at times I am sure
we can find our relationships strained by our enforced confinement but please
light hearted though they at first appear take heed of these proverbs don’t let
your words said at the wrong time or your reaction to the excuses of others mar
your precious relationships – we will get through this uncertain time more
readily by preserving our relationships and by remembering this Proverb:
‘The one who blesses others is
abundantly blessed; those who help others are helped.’ (11: 25)
Prayer
Loving Lord,
In whose eyes all life is precious, help us to value the worth of every
individual you have created in your image. We pray for the relationships we
hold dear and thank you for those who are our own family and those who are like
family to us. Bless them with your love. In Jesus’ name. Amen
Friday Fun Time:
Here are your five questions for today!
1. What flowers would you choose for a bouquet – for yourself or for
another?
2. What five places would you like to visit most after ‘Lockdown’?
3. Who would you invite to dinner as an interesting guest?
4. What five chores would you gladly give to someone else to do?
5. What’s your favourite excuse when asked to do something?
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