Monday Mornings

Monday mornings feel like a gift to me. On this day I truly feel the scripture in Lamentations “This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.” (3:21-23) I am always grateful on Monday mornings for another chance to do better, to be better. I look at the week ahead and try to judge the hot spots and convince myself that I am up to the task of dealing with them. I look even closer at the monotony of everyday tasks and resolve again to face them with a better attitude, to consecrate my everyday work. I want to remember not to be consumed in the everyday stuff, but to rely on the compassion the Lord offers me. On Monday morning I feel energized.

By about Friday I just feel consumed. I feel wilted. I sometimes feel like I have sunk into a mire of mediocrity and I am just slogging through life. But then along comes the Sabbath and the Sacrament and the Savior and by Monday morning I feel renewed again. This is my life cycle. I know that I should probably feel this energy on Sunday. I have studied and pondered and understand the concept of Sabbath. But, I am often exhausted on Sunday, especially by the time Primary is over. I can usually feel a kind of warm comfort that comes from having tried--from having made an acceptable offering. But, sometimes, I have to admit, I feel only a kind of cold comfort that the past week is finally over and I survived.

But, at some point through the night, the blessing of Sabbath finally seeps into me and there is Monday morning - a new week with a new chance and new mercies. I experience what David wrote in Psalm 40. “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth.”

A new song in my mouth. Every week he does this for me -- over and over again. My life cycle. Thank you Jesus.