I would be the first to tell you that Scarlett O’Hara is not a great role model for much of anything, but one thing that she does get right is her determination to get through today as best she can because “tomorrow is another day.”

Never have these words rung truer. From day to day – or even hour to hour and minute to minute – our situation is changing. Whether it’s the latest update on COVID-19, the day’s stock market results, or the current price of oil, our days are stressful. During a recent devotional before a meeting of the Administrative Leadership Team, Kathy Webster reminded us of Matthew 6:24, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” I don’t know about you, but sometimes I cannot worry about tomorrow because I’m too busy trying to get through today! Especially right now, each day does have enough trouble of its own.

I take comfort in this reminder, though, because that’s the way God wants it to be. He wants us to live one day at a time so that He can demonstrate for us daily that his grace is sufficient for that day’s trouble.

As we reach the end of Holy Week, Christians are preparing to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, and Jews are observing Passover. As a quick reminder, Passover commemorates God setting the Jews free from centuries of bondage in Egypt. While freedom from slavery is certainly a cause for celebration, the Israelites then spent the next forty years wandering in the wilderness. During that bleak time, God provided manna for them each day. There was always more than enough manna, but the Israelites couldn’t gather one day’s manna to save for the next day. It would rot overnight. God wanted them to trust Him each and every day to provide for their needs.

Regardless of what your faith tradition is or if you have no defined faith, this lesson feels particularly relevant for this time. We just need to get through each day, whether that means helping your children finish an assignment, creating dinner based on what you have available in the pantry, or just showering and brushing your hair. Each day may have trouble, but God provides for us daily.

These circumstances call us to define success and productivity differently. Students’ learning looks different. Parenting looks different. Teaching looks different. Grocery shopping is different. Socializing is different. The list goes on. So, how should we define success? I encourage you and your children to count each day as successful if we have been kind to one another, if we have found a way to help, if we feel a sense of purpose in our work, and quite simply if we make it through the day.

I’m reminded of the adage we share with the parents of infants and young children, “The days are long, but the years are short.” There’s no doubt that getting through these days is hard, but worrying about what comes next does not make today any easier. You have what you need to get through today and the next and the one after that. We cannot live any faster than one day at a time anyway. So, savor whatever little pleasures today brings, and even if the day was not your best, go to bed knowing that tomorrow is another day and another chance to allow God’s grace and mercy to comfort and sustain you.

Happy Easter!