I don’t know about you, but this term is taking on a more significant meaning in my life as I get older. I never paid attention to the morning after with the same appreciation as I do now.
When I was growing up there was a song on the radio The
Morning After, sung by one of my favorite artists, Maureen McGovern, that now I
understand clearly now.
In the events and journals of my life, you’ll find stories
ranging in scope of the modern theater represented by two masks: a smiling muse of comedy, and a frowning
muse of tragedy
I’ve
had some pretty dark days and some lonely nights. I’ve had incidents of danger
and fear come upon me. Not to mention
the fact I’m aging and can’t do what I once was able to do. There have been moments of hurt and
disappointment where my heart skipped several beats.
On
the other hand, there were moments that I laughed so hard I couldn’t catch
enough breath. There were also occasions where I smiled so hard with joy that
it felt as if my lips and cheeks would split.
I’ve been so proud of things accomplished, knowing it was the strength
of God that carried me through that my heart and soul were both overwhelmed,
left with unarticulated expressions.
I
was so focused on the event and the goal to survive that I forgot to remember all
the morning after’s that occurred.
During
the three long days of child birth, I went through to have my daughter was pale
to the love and joy I had the morning after when I looked into her healthy
eyes.
After
caregiving and the loss of each of my loved ones, I was drained emotionally,
physically, and spiritually but awoke to a day that I was reminded that their suffering
and pain was gone; heaviness replaced by relief and honor.
After
the attempted carjacking and the attack of a store merchant, I’ve had hours of shared
laughter with friends and strangers who heard and shared in my humor.
I
now value the morning after more for several reasons. First, God said we’d received new mercies
each day. If I just hold on.
Next,
I can look back over those circumstances in my life and see how the hand of God
moved me through to the shores of safety.
Finally,
I understand more that it’s the morning after where I, in retrospect, can see
the details of the circumstances and learn more about God and myself from them,
thereby to grow, appreciating my personal journey.
Here are the lyrics to that song I now sing to my soul:
There's got to be a morning after, if we can
hold on through the night
We have a chance to find the sunshine, Let's keep on
looking for the light
When things are really rough, I tell her:
Oh, can't you see the morning after? It's waiting
right outside the storm
Why don't we cross the bridge together, and find a
place that's safe and warm?
On the verge of giving up I remember Jesus
and say to my soul:
It's not too late, we should be giving, only with love
can we climb
It's not too late, not while we're living, Let's put
our hands out in time
On the darkest of days, I encourage my
soul:
There's got to be a morning after, we’re moving closer
to the shore
I know we'll be there by tomorrow, and we'll escape
the darkness
We won't be searching anymore
I
remind her of the hope and blessings awaiting us on the shore, in the arms of our
Savior.
What
do you say to your soul? Speak words of life over yourself. Hold on, don’t be
discouraged. Wait, there is going to be
a morning after for you. New mercy is on its way.
