When Life Has Lost Its Shine, Remember This

It was time for bed, and Sawyer was bouncing around like a trampoline tester. He was practically beside himself about something. He said, “I am SO EXCITED!”

Well, it wasn’t Christmas Eve, he didn’t have a loose tooth or a new pet, there was no promise of toys or trips to the candy store the next day. He didn’t win any awards and grandparents weren’t coming for a visit. So, I had no idea what reason he might have to be so happy and excited at this time of day.

“What are you excited about?” I asked.

His answer: “I don’t know! I’m just EXCITED!”

The more he bounded around the room with that big grin on his face, the more I started to feel an anticipation, too. Even though it really made no sense, I started to get a strange fluttery excitement inside, an expectation, a sense of looking forward to something.

I finally got my little hopper in bed, and he was asleep before long. But, the feeling I had caught from him stuck with me. I wasn’t suddenly expecting a huge God-ordained miracle in my life. I wasn’t anticipating Publisher’s Clearing House at my door the next day. But, it felt good to just have an excitement about waking up the next morning. About another day to live for my Savior, to love my children, to cherish my husband.

At a time of the day when I am usually just ready to sit and stare, I was energized with a new sense of purpose, of happiness. I just felt like smiling.

And since that night I have tried to picture Sawyer’s grin, his love for life bubbling over into his nighttime routine, and I have let it remind me in the dull or the difficult moments that there is always reason for excitement when you know Christ. When you are waiting to see what He will do in your life. When you are tuned into His goodness and His love.

So, in this first week of the new year, I want to be like Sawyer, filled with so much excitement about what God will do that I just can’t keep it all in. When people ask what I seem so happy about I want to be able to say, “I don’t know! I’m just EXCITED!” Because God has got 2014 in His back pocket. Because although troubles do come, they also go. Because there is absolute Truth in this universe and I know the Author of Truth. Because it’s just good to belong to God.

It’s exciting to be on the planet today. Thanks, Sawyer, for the bouncy reminder. May your sweet grin always point others to the goodness of God.