WE HAVE A ROLE.

GOD MAY CHANGE HIS MIND AT TIMES, but one thing that never changes is His love for us. We may look in a three-way mirror and be disappointed by the reflection, but God sees someone He adores.

THAT BEARS REPEATING. Each of us is God’s favorite. He loves each of us as though we were his only child. Unbound by time, He gives us His undivided attention all day long.

HE CREATED US IN HIS IMAGE WITH A JOB IN MIND. Even before the fall, Adam had his work cut out. We are aides and assistants in accomplishing His plan. C. S. Lewis explained that it is as if God were a playwright who left the minor roles up to the actors themselves. And we fumble around with our parts, messing them up and trying His patience. We’re like a kid with training wheels, even when we say yes to what God asks of us.

I ONCE SEARCHED FOR MY CALLING. What is it I was supposed to do, I wondered. And while I tried to figure it out, I was miserable. And not very useful. But, when I accepted that God has chosen what He wants me to do, I realized all I have to do is show up and be willing. He’ll point it out soon enough.

I DON’T WORRY. God will make use of what happens. I want to be a part of what He has planned, and I can’t do that when my own agenda seems more important.

AS FRUSTRATING AS MY DECISION to “just show up” has been at times, I have been amazed at what I’ve managed to attend to. (Not alone, of course.) Looking back for a moment, I have a sense of accomplishment and joy—even when my own TO DO LIST has a few items left on it.

AND IN MY TYPE-A rushing-around-to-get-everything-done past, I missed out on that feeling altogether.

You’re blessed. Be a blessing!

Who me? Worry?

ANOTHER TUMOR—this one in new territory—is reminding me how powerless I am against melanoma. Every step I choose in the direction of health seems, on days like these, not to matter. I am like the front grille of a Hummer trying to convince a train to jump the tracks. If I’m alone on this project, the outcome is obvious.

THERE’S PLENTY to be disheartened over, plenty to worry about . . . That is, if it were in my job description to worry. It’s not, of course. Matthew 6:34 makes that very clear. “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (NRSV)

IN OTHER WORDS, my job is to deal with only this day. I am to attack the problems that present themselves NOW and trust that my cares—all of them—are important to our loving God. He will bring my problems (Are you listening, tumors?) to a worthy conclusion. I must let God, who is unconstrained by time, deal with the past and the future. I can’t. My troubles are for His doorstep. After all, what can I possibly do about them?

I WIN WHEN I STOP indulging in my worrying ways. Shucking them gives me a greater appetite for the challenges of TODAY. I’m ready. Even if it means I go to bat with one more tumor. Bring on the NOW.

AM I SOMETIMES DISAPPOINTED in God? Of course! Many, many times He doesn’t do what I want done—or do it when I think it should be done.

BUT THAT BRINGS UP ANOTHER QUESTION. Is God ever disappointed in me? Oh, I don’t even want to think about this. When I stop and count those times I have disappointed Him, this tendency of mine to worry, which shows a decided lack of trust, is merely one in a list too long to count. Without question, God is much, much better to me than I am to Him.

AND NO TUMORS—new or old—can ever rob me of that.

You’re blessed. Be a blessing!