Best Day Ever

Jeremy, Jason and I installed a 40’ rope swing on an oak tree on the farm last Saturday. Jason and family are here isolating in our lower level, so our interaction has been outside only for this past week. 

Earlier this week, Anabelle and I were at the rope swing. As she was swinging on the rope, it began to snow—just a few flakes—and she was squealing. All of a sudden, she cried out, “This is the best day ever!” Of course, that made her papa feel real proud.

That was not the first time I had heard her say that phrase. The other time she said that in front of me was a couple years ago. I took her and Naomi to the dollar store, and I told them that they could buy any five items in the store that they wanted. They were excited that they could pick out their own purchases. The fact that every item in the store only cost $1.00 did not seem to matter to them.

Thirty minutes later after they had picked out their items, we started to check out and I asked the girls if they would like a soft drink. Of course! I also picked up three ice cream sandwiches before checking out. 

After getting settled in the car, and as we were eating our ice cream treats, Anabelle exclaimed, “This is the best day ever!”

How many days in your life have been the best days ever? I think that most of us have experienced many times a “best day ever.”

One of mine was a date that Cheryl and I had at the reservoir in Jackson, Mississippi. We were on a double date with my best friend and his date, and I brought along my battery-powered record player for background music as we had an evening picnic. That night I realized that I had fallen in love with Cheryl. 

Other “best days ever” were the days that each of our children were born. Three were born in different states in the USA, and one was born in West Africa. 

Another one was sitting in a marriage enrichment meeting in Amman, Jordan, when Cheryl wrote me a love note. It was so beautifully written, and it made me cry. I still have that note in one of my Bibles. 

I have many, but just one more: my 60th birthday celebration. My birthday and Christmas had already passed, and Cheryl and I had two couples as house guests in our home—Al and KK Gilbert and Denny and Sherry Smith. I thought it was interesting that each of these couples did not know the other until they both arrived at our home. I wondered how that happened, but Cheryl had arranged everything, and I loved both of these couples so I was happy to have them visiting with us. One evening Cheryl and the other two wives were out shopping, and I received a call from Amanda asking me to pick up Collin from a birthday party at the skating rink. Al, Denny and I stopped at the skating rink for the pickup, and Collin came out and  said, “Papa, you need to come inside.” 

As I walked into the building I was totally blown away. Cheryl had rented the entire skating rink and gathered many friends to celebrate my birthday. It was a great time. Did I skate at 60 years of age? Of course! I even did the skating races. It was a grand time with family and friends. Interestingly, the owner of the rink was very nervous when the rink was rented for a 60-year birthday party. Previously, the oldest person to celebrate a birthday there was a 40-year old! 

Indeed, all of us who have a personal relationship with Jesus would list that day when we became a child of God as the “best day ever.” But, we also know that the best days will be in the hereafter as we bow at the feet of the Risen Savior.