This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

How are you?

What is the typical answer to this question? It’s generally one of the following:

I’m fine. Which may or may not be the case. It’s a polite answer.

Or, I’m busy. Which we use so often, that “I’m busy” has become synonymous with “I’m alive.” Another answer is “I’m stressed.”

When someone says “I’m great, couldn’t be better,” we will almost automatically put that in the “I’m fine” category. And if someone really convinces us “I’m great, couldn’t be better,” we might send them a look of consternation in return. Because most of us aren’t great, or don’t allow ourselves to feel great, we become indignant about people who actually are.

There are people who actually feel great, who are afraid to let people know that because they think they will be looked down upon. Because the expected answer to “How are you?” is to say “I’m busy,” or “I’m stressed out,” even if we are neither, we feel pressured to conform by offering these answers. And there are some who don’t allow themselves to have a good day. They wear their badge of tired, busy or stressed out, with pride, like a badge of honor. Sad to say, we might think people are weird when they say they are having a great day.

Does the question “How are you doing?” get an honest answer? I’m sure the majority of the time the answer is the pat “I’m doing fine.” Because if someone says “I’m struggling,” they probably fear either being ignored (i.e. no one has time for someone who is struggling), judged (looked down on), or that someone will have something on them they can use against them later. And to answer “I’m doing great” will be met again with consternation and even jealousy, because most people aren’t doing great.

Having a great day is something I hope happens to us often. Today’s Psalm verse from Psalm 118:24 says, “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It doesn’t say, “let us struggle in it,” or “let us survive it” or “let us be exasperated in it.” We are encouraged to rejoice and be glad in it. There are lots of people who struggle with this. There are some who even feel guilt, I’m guessing, that if they don’t feel exasperated on a given day that they haven’t made the most of the day. Like the person who doesn’t answer “I’m busy,” will be looked down upon.

If you are someone who never has a great day, you might consider talking to someone about that, like a priest or a mental health professional. Because we should have great days. God wants us to have great days. Certainly not every day will be great but some of them need to be. God wants everyone to have good days. So when people around us are feeling good and optimistic, we should celebrate with them, not throw a wet blanket over their feelings of joy.

A person can feel “blessed” even on a bad day. Because even on my worst day, on my most stressful days, I can feel blessed that I am alive, that I am a Christian, that I’m married and have a child, that I have a home and food. I have a lot of blessings and I should recognize them, even on my stressful days, or even most especially on those days.

As for having a great day, I hope for every day to be a great day. Not all of them are great, but some of them sure are. It’s hard to feel great around people who are down. So when we are down, we should at least find some joy for people who aren’t feeling down. And we should wish others to have a great day, we should hope for that for them. We should hope for that for one another.

I have worked hard to drop three words from my vocabulary—busy, tired and try. I’m always busy, most people are. So, I work hard to find different words instead of busy. As I said above, saying “I’m busy” is almost like saying “I’m alive,” because just about everyone is busy. “Tired” is reserved for special occasions. That’s because most people feel tired on a given day because all of us are stressed and very few of us sleep enough. At the end of Holy Week or summer camp, I allow myself to say I’m tired. Finally, the word “try.” In Star Wars, Yoda says “Try out! Do or do not, there is no try.” And he’s right, we are either doing or not doing. There really is no try.

A “great day” is part of my vocabulary, perhaps not every day but on many days. I encourage you to wish for others to have a great day. And for you to allow yourselves to have great days as well. No, they won’t all be great, but many of them certainly can be. Part of being an encourager is being optimistic, for appreciating the good that comes our way, as well as appreciating the good that comes to others. The goal of every day should be a great day. And we should start off every day with optimism, that any day can be a good day. If we see every day as a gift from God, regardless of what kind of day it is, any day can really be a great day.

Lord, thank You for the gift of this day. Regardless of what happens to me today, I know that I am blessed to be alive on this day. Help me to see the possibilities for good things to happen this day. May I rejoice in the successes of others, and may they rejoice in mine. Help me to remember that this day is a gift from You. May I glorify You in this day, whatever it shall hold for me. Amen.

Have a great day! Really!

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