“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17:22)

While participating in our church’s nursing home outreach, I spent precious time with a wheelchair bound woman. From the moment I saw her, I could not help but notice her happy countenance. It was warm, friendly, and captivating. I introduced myself to her and explained that we were there to fellowship with all the residents. Knowing that she was unable to go outdoors on her own, I asked if she would like to go outside for some fresh air. She drew close and said, “I would love to”.

We found a lovely spot outside the facility under a shaded tree. As we chatted, she shared with me all she had been through over the past few years. I was caught off guard by the amount of transition she had incurred in such a short time.

Her husband of fifty-four years had passed away, she became ill shortly after and lost use of her legs, and she had to sell her home and car, and move into her present quarters. If that wasn’t enough she professed she was a daily walker, faithfully walking two miles in the morning and two miles in the evening. She enjoyed it all…but in the course of a mere few years all had changed. The one thing I knew that did not change was her lovely, cheerful demeanor.

As time went on, she glanced at her watch and noted that lunchtime was near. She kindly requested I wheel her back in so she could eat and get ready for work. Again, this ninety one-year-old woman startled me. I asked, “What type of work?”

She replied, “I knew I had to keep busy. It is not good for me to stay in my room all day long. I would become depressed thinking about all the different things. So I asked if I could do some work within the facility, and sure enough, they gave me a job. I greet and direct all the people who come in.”

Without doubt, this God believing woman amazed me. Here I thought I was going to serve and minister to those in need but in light of it all, this woman ended up ministering to me. She taught me a valuable lesson. Life is full of transitions and unforeseen changes. Some good, some bad, and some down right heartbreaking, but with faith in God, we can make it through with a cheerful demeanor.

Dear Heavenly Father, We acknowledge that life is full of change but with you by our side, we can go through such with a proper attitude that is acceptable and pleasing to you and others. Amen

Question: How has your attitude been lately?

Does fear hold you captive in your home, hinder your relationships and control everything you do? Take this lesson.

A friend of mine, recovering from a deep depression, said his turnaround came when he realized, “I have a choice. I can continue to blame my upbringing, past traumatic experiences, and life’s injustices for the emotional mess I’m in, or I can focus on today and begin to take small steps of recovery.”

Like him, I got myself out of a pit of self-pity and despair by focusing on the fact that if Jesus Christ lives in me, I’m a new creation. I can leave the old behind and claim my new position in Christ. But it was a choice I had to make many times a day.

God has given to each of us the privilege of making choices and the responsibility of living with the consequences of those choices. “Every choice we make takes us down a certain path. Either to a person that is in harmony with God and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow creatures, and with itself,” writes C.S. Lewis.

A poster on a wall in a school says it so well: You’re not born a winner; you’re not born a looser. You are born a chooser.

Dear God, today I want to see myself as a new creation in Christ and act upon this truth.  Amen.

Questions: How can one get out of a pit of self-pity and despair?  Tell us about a time when you made a good choice in a difficult situation.

About the Author Helen Grace Lescheid

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s  Chatroom at 10:30 am EDT.

This spring our grandson was visiting on a nice sunny day so the two of us went to the back yard to do some clean up. The task would have gone faster without the help of a two year old but for the delight of being together I invited him to join me.

I learned two lessons from a two year old child’s perspective that day. In the middle of the afternoon it started to snow, one of those spring squalls that produce large flakes of snow. Domonic turned to me with a big smile and said, “Me chase snow!” He proceeded to run, turning in circles, laughing all the time while attempting to catch the snow flakes. His joy was infectious! The lesson I learned in watching him was that we need to enjoy the moments that God gives.

The second lesson Domonic taught me had to do with his wanting to help me In the clean up process we filled several baskets with debris. I started to carry the first one away when Domonic said, “Me help.” I really did not need his help but I let him take hold of the basket.  He didn’t really have the strength to help, but I let him do it even though I had to slow down.  It gave him great pleasure to help his Papa!

I began to think about how God views us. I do not claim to be a theologian, but I am convinced that God does not really need our help. The fact that God invites us to join him in his work is because he delights in the relationship with us and knows we will be satisfied in that partnership with him. In my desire to help God, I am very much like a two year old trying to help his Papa.

So the lessons from a two year old that I learned that day were to enjoy each moment God gives, even though there is a task to be done, and to understand that God desires and delights in our relationship with him.

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD;
I sing for joy at the works of your hands.

How great are your works, O LORD,
how profound your thoughts!  Psalm 92:4-5 (NIV)

I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.

Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings.   Psalm 17:6-8 (NIV)

Questions: What kind of relationship with God do you have? Why does God desire and delight in a relationship with you?

About the Author Mike Woodward

Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Deliver Us from the Evil One, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Join us for our Daily Devotional Chat today in our Women’s Chatroom at 10:30am EST.

(Application Study Bible)  So what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?

I was standing in the Old Growth Forest near Nelson, British Columbia, staring at a most extra-ordinary pine tree. The base of the tree rested on a huge boulder like a giant sitting on a chair. The bark was split open like a brown cloak on either side of the rock. The tree, like a grinning champion after a noble fight, stood triumphantly on top of its enemy. In fact, it was taller than some of the trees beside it. All because of the boulder!

As I gazed at the tree, I got quite excited. “Come back,” I called to my party, “have a look at this brave tree.” Soon a motley group of men and women gathered round. “Isn’t this a lesson for us all,” I said.  “A lesson in overcoming.” A guy winked at his friend, as much as to say, “Here she goes again, finding a lesson in whatever!”

But no matter, my mind continued to imagine what it was like for this tree. Many years ago, at the edge of a boulder, like a menacing mountain, a small seed sprouted in the ground. What chance did it have to grow up? Still, it pushed its way through the ground. As it grew in size it kept bumping into a rocky wall, a constant reminder of its unyielding, ornery neighbour. If it had been like us, it might have grumbled, ‘What did I do to deserve this? I can’t even stretch and grow like other pine trees around me.’ But it kept growing and reaching and stretching and climbing, one inch at a time. Right on top of the boulder! Thus elevated, it continued to grow, perfectly straight, with the rest of the trees.

Now, the tree seemed to be saying to me, “If you have a boulder in your way and you can’t move it or tunnel through it, use it to your advantage. Turn a stumbling stone into a stepping stone.”

Take one little step by giving thanks that God knows all about this obstacle and He will turn it into something good.

Father, show me a way of surmounting this obstacle, one inch at a time.

Questions: What is lying in your path today? How can you make a positive out of a negative?

About  Helen Grace Lescheid

Daily  podcast: A second daily devotional, God’s Timing is Not Ours, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog

Here are some of our favorites:

• Affair-proof your marriage
• How to manage your time
• Confronting Giants: Dealing with the big stuff
• Knowing Jesus
• How Do You Define Yourself?  What’s in your bag?
• Healthier Living: Reduce your stress
• Behind the Mask:  Destructive Secrets
• Rekindle the Romance
• Dealing with Anxiety
• Make Your Life Count: Living with significance

Go to the full lesson list to see all the topics available.  If you have any questions about Life Lessons, go to the FAQ page or send us an email.