Day 36 – What about tomorrow?

Morning prayer

Start you day with this prayer

Symbol: Shoe

 

Prayer

Our Lord God, for the last few weeks we were very aware of our limited movement and that we may only leave our homes for absolute necessities and under strict circumstances. Please help us to remember that this limitation of physical movement does not mean our discipleship is limited. Please show us how and when we can still walk with the gospel – the Good News for all people.

We pray for each person who provides essential services in this time and for each person who has the opportunity to work. We pray for each individual and every family who are affected by unemployment and a loss of income. We pray for everyone who feels uncertain and scared about what the future may hold.

We pray for our president, Cyril Ramaphosa, and for all the ministers and leaders in government that have to lead the way in this time. May You give them strength to make well-considered decisions under immense pressure. Bless their families and loved ones who support them.

Thank you, Lord, for not forgetting about us. Thank you for continuing to comfort and encourage us. Thank you for being able to create hope from chaos and uncertainty.

 Amen.

Reflection

Read this reflection on the text for the day. 

Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest – Proverbs 6:6-8.

Does all the talking about the importance of today mean that I may not live with my eye on tomorrow at all? Should I stop planning for the future? Should I become irresponsible with my money and cancel all my annuities? Definitely not. Of course I have to plan for tomorrow. I also have to do it responsibly and well. 

 The book of Proverbs calls us to learn from the ants. They work hard and already in the summer start storing food for the cold winter months to come. No, you dare not ignore the future. You should put some of your money away for winter months coming. You must consider what the people around you might need when you do your financial planning. The future is after all still coming, God willing.

There are, however, more than enough good, responsible voices around you to guide you in the right way towards the future. Unfortunately there are too few voices to bring you back to the realities of today.

But, today is still the only time zone in which you are going to spend the next 24 hours of your life. Do not let it slip through your fingers. Cherish it and experience it before you set your sights on tomorrow.

Eternal Lord, help me to provide for tomorrow without stealing from today so I can fully experience the gift of the present you have given me. Amen.

Liturgy for life

See the ordinary things you do in and around the house as signs of God’s care.

This week: Clean out your cupboards

Why? Firstly, it is a sign of gratitude for the abundance that you have received. Secondly, to share from your abundance and to help people who have much less than you in this time. And lastly, to realise that you can simplify your life. As Elizabeth Ann Seton said: “Live simply so that others may simply live.”

How? Start with your clothes. Look at everything you have and choose ten good items that you still can use, but that you do not use that often or that you do not really need anymore. Donate it to a charity. When you are finished with your clothes, look at what you have in your other cupboards. Are there everyday items that you can give away to other people? Things they may not be able to afford at this time? In our community, we are going to make all of the items available for a donation of R20 per item. Something has more value when you have to give something in exchange for it. We still want to make it affordable, though.

What do we want to achieve? We want to enable people to get good, usable items at an affordable donation, while we come to a deeper understanding of how blessed we are. We want to help the larger community while promoting cooperation between different congregations, businesses and local government.

Watch this video and start cleaning out your cupboards this coming week.

Children’s activity

Play with your children.

Wow! 21 Days of isolation. 21 Days in which we’re only allowed to be in our homes (or gardens) and can only go out for the most essential things like food and medicine. It can be a little rough! All the things we usually do during the day, like school, sport, church … are not happening anymore. It can really confuse you and maybe even bore you a little. These daily readings will help you to spend some time with Jesus every day in a creative and fun way. You can do these readings and activities by yourself, with your siblings, or with your entire family. Ask one of the grownups to post your activity on Facebook so that others can enjoy it with you. Tag it with #solitudecalendar #churchtogether

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God often reminds us in the Bible that we should live in abundance today, but God also reminds us that we should not forget about the future. But we do not have to be worried about the future and that is why we can live fully today, while knowing: There is still a tomorrow.

– Name one thing you did today that you enjoyed a lot.

– What are you looking forward to doing in the future?

Activity

Search for some ants in your garden or house. Look at them for a while. What are they doing?

Find three jars that look almost the same that you can make piggy banks from. Decorate the three jars and mark each one with one of these words: SPENDING, SAVING and OFFERING. When you receive money, divide it between these three piggy banks. Use your spending jar to buy things you want. Use your saving jar to save money for the future. The money in your offering jar you can give to the church.

Picture this

Look at today’s illustration.

– What do you see?

– What colours strike you and why?

– Do you see any correlation between today’s illustration and today’s verse?

Now it’s your turn! Use today’s Scripture as inspiration for an illustration of your own. Use any medium: draw, sketch, paint, dance, write poetry, take a picture, write a short story, music – anything! 

Share it on social media if you feel comfortable doing so by using the hashtag #countdowndoodles