"The Lord’s loyal kindness never ceases; his compassions never end. They are renewed every morning. Great is your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 CEB)
One of the things I’ve been enjoying lately is getting to see the sunrise without having to get up quite so early. With the days growing shorter and the time change still ahead of us, the sun is making its appearance a little later each morning. And honestly, I’m not complaining about getting a little more sleep!
This morning, as I was driving our youngest son to school, the sunrise was particularly beautiful. Sometimes driving east in the morning means squinting into the sun, adjusting the visor, and wondering if I’ll ever be able to see the road again. But this morning was different. Instead of making the drive difficult, the sunlight offered us a beautiful beginning to another day. I even stopped to take a picture.
Maybe I noticed it because October has become one of those months when everyone seems to be preparing for something. Our boys have choir and band auditions, our oldest son and his cross-country teammates are heading to Regionals, and at church we’re preparing for Trunk or Treat and Charge Conference. Somewhere in the middle of it all, I’m attending a training called Preaching in the Age of AI, which has given me plenty to think about.
As a dad, I love watching our boys pursue the things they’re passionate about. I see the hours of practice, rehearsals, and training. Of course, I want them to succeed and experience the joy of seeing their hard work pay off. But more than anything, I want them to know how proud their mother and I are of them, regardless of the outcome. Their accomplishments are worth celebrating, but their worth has never depended on those accomplishments.
I wonder how often we need that same reminder ourselves. We live in a world that measures so much by achievement, productivity, and results. Sometimes we even measure our own worth that way.
Perhaps that’s why the sunrise caught my attention. I hadn’t earned it by accomplishing everything on yesterday’s to-do list. It was simply there, waiting to be noticed.
Lamentations reminds us that God’s mercies are new every morning (3:22–23). God’s love isn’t something we earn through our achievements. It’s a gift we receive.
Whatever this week holds, whether you’re celebrating an accomplishment, facing disappointment, or simply trying to keep up with life’s demands, I hope you’ll remember that your worth isn’t determined by what you accomplish.
You are already loved.
And sometimes, all it takes is a sunrise to remind us.
With Gratitude,
Rev. Rodney Whitfield
Senior Pastor
Aldersgate UMC