Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow

I had been thinking lately about yesterday and tomorrow.  I guess that goes with today’s age.  Willie Nelson sings, “Three days that I dread to see arrive; Three days that I hate to be alive; Three days filled with tears and sorrow; Yesterday, today and tomorrow.” As much as I enjoy most of Willie’s songs, and even though I understand the reason for these lyrics, this is one I’d like to re-write. How about, “Three days I love to see arrive; Three days that I love to be alive; Three days from which I borrow; Yesterday, today, and tomorrow.” Sorry, Willie.  I really do love most of your songs and I’ve still got that personalized, autographed picture you gave me, but I’ll have to go a different route on yesterday, today and tomorrow.  Memories of yesterday are one of God’s best gifts.  The hope of tomorrow is one of God’s greatest promises.  Then I was reminded of a saying from among the indigenous Inuit people, “Yesterday is ashes. Tomorrow is green wood. Only today does the fire burn brightly.”  Given the obvious value of both memory and hope, I like this saying.  It brings me back into the present tense.  It reminds me that while Jesus is the “same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8), He is present with me today! While I can visualize my past, and envision my future, I must live in my today; and even though I am not yet sure what all this day will bring, I am ever so thankful for the promise, that my Lord is with me all twenty-four hours of this day.