Photo by Chuck Snyder

Just before her ninety-ninth birthday, I asked Rose Marie Miller about her enthusiasm for life. I wish I had recorded her exact answer, but the gist of it was: “Some days it’s there. Some days it’s not. Everyday my life is in God’s hands.”

Her words echoed Philippians 2:18-24:

I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this
will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I
will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will
be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ,
and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My
desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the
flesh is more necessary on your account.

I have repented of waking up thinking, “Another day, and I’m not yet in heaven.” For, although we are commanded to hold it lightly, life is a gift. I still don’t bop out of bed beaming, but I do wake up counseling myself, “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).

Then I remind myself that I am an “us.” I am joined with Christ by faith. It is no longer I and my joylessness that live, but Christ and his joy live within me (Galatians 2:20). I believe that the Holy Spirit, who raised Jesus from the dead, dwells in me to give life to my mortal body (Romans 8:11). I get out of bed with gladness rather than groaning. I believe God strengthens those who have no might, so they can run and not be weary, walk and not faint, and rise with wings like eagles. It’s easy to overlook, however, that all this energy comes to those who wait for the Lord. I’m waiting . . .