our daily bread
Dexu Xia
Singing with Violet
I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Philippians 1:23–24
An elderly woman named Violet sat on her bed in a Jamaican infirmary and smiled as some teenagers stopped to visit with her. The hot, sticky, midday air came into her little group home unabated, but she didn’t complain. Instead, she began wracking her mind for a song to sing. Then a huge smile appeared and she sang, “I am running, skipping, jumping, praising the Lord!” As she sang, she swung her arms back and forth as if she were running. Tears came to those around her, for Violet had no legs. She was singing because, she said, “Jesus loves me—and in heaven I will have legs to run with.”
Violet’s joy and hopeful anticipation of heaven give new vibrancy to Paul’s words in Philippians 1 when he referred to life-and-death issues. “If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me,” he said. “I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far” (vv. 22–23).
Each of us faces tough times that may cause us to long for the promise of heavenly relief. But as Violet showed us joy despite her current circumstances, we too can keep “running, skipping, praising the Lord”—both for the abundant life He gives us here and for the ultimate joy that awaits us.
Lord, when times are tough, help me to find joy. Help us to live in the tough times of this world with happiness while looking ahead to something “better by far.”
When God gives us a new beginning, we find a joy that’s never ending.
喜乐欢唱
我正在两难之间，情愿离世与基督同在，因为这是好得无比的。然而，我在肉身活着，为你们更是要紧的。-腓立比书1章23-24节
在牙买加的一间医院里，有位名为薇欧莉的老太太坐在病床上，面带微笑地看着前来探视她的一群青少年。日正当中，炎热的天气使得病房里又闷又热，但她并没有任何怨言，反倒绞尽脑汁地想要唱一首诗歌。接着，她开心地唱着：“我就行走着、奔跑着、跳跃着，赞美主！”她一边唱，手臂一边前后摆动就好像正在奔跑一样。此时，周遭的人都不禁落泪，因为薇欧莉没有双腿。她说自己这样唱，原因是：“耶稣爱我，将来在天上，我就有腿能跑了。”
薇欧莉的喜乐与对天国满心的期待，体现了保罗在腓立比书1章对于生死所提出的论述。他说：“但我在肉身活着，若成就我工夫的果子，我就不知道该挑选什么。我正在两难之间，情愿离世与基督同在，因为这是好得无比的。”（22-23节）
当我们遭遇艰难困顿时，可能会渴望得着释放，早日回天家。但薇欧莉处在艰辛的环境中，仍展现出她的喜乐。我们同样也可以为上帝所赐今生丰盛的生命，以及未来无尽的喜乐，而“行走着、奔跑着、跳跃着，赞美主”！
亲爱的主，求祢帮助我在困苦中依然能够喜乐。
帮助我们能以喜乐的心面对今生的患难，
因为我们所盼望的是“好得无比的”。
我得着上帝所赐的新生命，喜乐就永不止息。