“How has your day been?” he asked her, while she stuck a price on his fried chicken box at the deli counter.

“Oh, you know. Just another day,” she answered.

A sad answer, don’t you think? Just another day.

Later that night, we were on the way home from a friend’s house. I was staring out the window, trying to stay awake. Matt was chatting on the phone with his mom.

“Are you counting tomorrow?” he asked her.

A strange question, unless you know it is literal. His mom goes to the church and helps count the offering on Tuesdays.

But I heard the question and saw the girl with the blonde ponytail at the grocery story deli.

Are you counting tomorrow? Or will it be just another day?

I went to bed last night thinking about what makes a day special instead of another monotonous X on the calendar, and I thought of some things that add value to every single day we’re alive.

Three Ways to Find Meaning in This Day

Talk to God about everything. Having his attention and getting his perspective, instruction, feedback, comfort, and truth about every detail of our day creates for us a unique life.

Pray continually.  (1 Thessalonians 5:17 NIV)

Walk around loved. People who know they are loved carry a secret smile.

I have loved you with an everlasting love.  (Jeremiah 31:3 NIV)

Deny yourself more than once. I would write more about this, but I’m just starting to get a taste of what it means to go against what I naturally want in a situation and do what is good and right instead. I’m finding there is a hidden life on the other side of self-denial, but I am too novice to tell you more except that I have found something strangely valuable in doing this.

Jesus says:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”  (Luke 9:23)

Most people do not go around in their homes and jobs and cars experiencing the three things I’ve listed above. Few people know what it means to talk to the Creator all day long and to experience his response. Few open their hearts to the profound love of God. And even fewer discover the unexpected rewards of giving up self in order to gain satisfaction in the will of the Father.

Which of these do you need most, to infuse meaning into your day?