rejoice, rejoice, rejoice and rejoice some more

Philippians 4:4-9 (NRSV)
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.


We've learned that each situation in life presents choices. We can see faults in family members and withdraw from our relationships, or we can be grateful that they overlook our faults and bad habits and decide to do the same for them. We can grumble about our jobs and co-workers, or we can be thankful we are able to work and earn an income. We can criticize neighbors, or we can appreciate their willingness to help in time of need. We can grumble about the material possessions we don't have, or we can be thankful for sufficient food, water, and shelter. We can despair when illness or aging makes daily life more difficult, or we can face new challenges with determination and make the most of our abilities.

Regardless of the circumstances, these choices are ours to make.

(by Diana C. Derringer (Kentucky, USA))