Do you have “best days” anymore? These are the days that you look forward to so much that is seems that time has stopped, and the day will never arrive.
When I was a kid, those days were always: church homecoming, Easter egg hunt, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and my birthday. While I am very thankful to still have birthdays, I have decided not to count them anymore.
For me, the other “best days” involved school. Like most kids I enjoyed field day. To me it was a day of fun and adventure. I attended Green Hill, which was a small elementary school at the edge of Knox County. Unfortunately, it has been gone for decades.
In front of the school, there was a small field. Everybody would gather and sit there as we had field day. Best of all, we had a big picnic with brown bag lunches. Hey, simple pleasures are often the greatest.
Now, it’s time to show my geekiness. I absolutely loved the first day of school. I also loved the week before school started.
Why? Because we went shopping for new clothes and school supplies. Seriously. I enjoyed that almost as much as Christmas shopping.
When we brought the goodies home, I would immediately get my notebooks and paper organized. We didn’t have backpacks in those days. I would even pretend I was in class and write out make-believe assignments.
On the real first day of school, I was giddy with excitement. I couldn’t wait to see my friends again. It was fun to see how they had grown and changed.
Back in the 70s, we didn’t have cell phones or any social media. So, when school was over, you generally didn’t see your classmates that summer unless they were your neighbor, you went to church with them, or you saw them out with their family at the store.
On the first day, we caught up with each other and what we had done that summer. It was mainly the girls who did that. Most of the boys grimaced and didn’t really talk that much except to complain that we were too loud and so happy to be there.
“Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV)
While I was writing this story, the hymn “When We all Get to Heaven” played in my head. There will never be a best day or a reunion like the one that will happen on the day the Lord returns for those who belong to Him. This gives me peace and hope like nothing else on this side of eternity. Trust me, this is one reunion you don’t want to miss.
Over the years, my “best days” have changed somewhat. While I still look forward to the holidays, my best days now are the ones spent with my family and friends. Oh, and let’s not forget the days where I have lots of chocolate!