How are you today?
We all say it, hear it, and respond to it many times every day! In passing. In the hallway. Waiting in the elevator. At the store. Even at church. We walk past each other mumbling it and scarcely wait for the reply. And what is the reply?
“Pretty good”
“Ok”
“Tired”
Every once in a while you get the annoying, cheerful person who gushes, “Terrrrific! It’s a beautiful, perfect, fantastic, glorious day!” (Whatever…eye roll.)
And sometimes you get the sad dude at Subway telling you about his bad tooth, low-paying job, and how insanely, stressfully busy his day has been. (Oka-aay…sorry I asked.)
A few weeks ago I was shopping at Walmart. I wasn’t very happy. I had handled a situation all wrong and even though I’d apologized and talked it out with the person, I was still replaying, rethinking, and rehashing it over and over in my brain. Also, I was grumpy! On top of paying tuition and crazy extracurricular expenses, I was having to buy cases of water and Gatorade for BOTH of my boys for their class Olympics. What am I? A money tree?
Goodness! How was I? Foul!
I pulled up in the checkout line behind an older gentleman. That’s when I heard it. “How are you today, sir,” the cashier asked. But his response was different! I’ve never heard it before. His response? “Just right.”
“Just right.”
It immediately impressed me and snapped me out of my funk! “Just right!”
Paul knew what it meant to be “just right.” “For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:11-12
What exactly is the key for Paul’s secret! What is Paul’s lesson learned? It’s a favorite Bible verse for us to use, but sadly, we say it in situations that are goofy and meaningless. But it’s huge!
Referring to being “just right”… to being content in all situations. Through the good times or bad. Through sickness or health. Through hunger or plenty. Through riches or poverty. Through refreshed or tired out. Through feeling happy or sad. Through fear or fearlessness. Through it all, Paul says, “I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
I can be “just right” because “at just the right time…Christ died for me.” Romans 5:6
I can be “just right” because He conquered the grave and paid my ransom. And because of that He is able to give me Strength and Life. Because of that, He has made me “just right” with the Father.
Two simple words that say it all.
How are you today?