It was a cool, dry Summer’s morning. I had just dropped off my son at the sheltered workshop where he works two days a week. I was headed home watching the sun peek through the clouds and singing along to a song playing in the car. My croaky, raspy voice may not have been making a very beautiful noise, but it was a joyful one.

Suddenly I saw two deer up ahead in the road. They were climbing down the mountain to get a drink at the river below. I slowed to a stop, smiled, and watched them. They looked back at me, so I gently waved for them to go on. Then I swear they nodded at me before heading on down the hill. Further on I saw another figure along the side of the road. It was a man with his thumb out. He was burly, had on denim coveralls, and had curly white hair with a bushy white beard. He bore a remarkable resemblance to my late father-in-law. I pulled over and let him in. We drove on and chatted amicably about nothing in particular. I dropped him off at the store in town and got a “God bless you, son” as my reward. Then I headed back home again feeling both better and lighter than I had before. It was like all of Heaven was smiling down on me and this was the start of a very good day.

Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote “This time, like all other times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it.” What do we do with it? I myself have found that it is best to, day by day, fill it with little acts of kindness. It is best to fill it with little moments of joy. It is best to fill it with little choices of love that bring us higher to Heaven, and closer to God.

What are you going to do with this time that God gives you? Are you going to waste it in fear, chasing after things that will all turn to dust? Or are you going to spend it in love, making each day a very good day by being the very best You?