Sunbonnet Soliloquy

By Jewell Ellen Smith

Rejoice and be Glad Always

“Two heads are better than one” is an old saying. But it is not worn out. There is still truth in it.

And when it comes to the reasons for being glad and joyous in this life, I recommend seeking the best thoughts from fourteen heads.

That’s what I did earlier this spring when I was invited to speak before the Alabama Federation of Women’s Clubs during that group’s annual convention in Dothan.

The talk was to be presented on the morning of April 30, just after the convention delegates had their breakfast. And the topic the AFWC chairman suggested was: A TIME TO REJOICE!

I was pleased at the invitation, much delighted at the prospect of getting to speak to club leaders from all over Alabama.

“That rejoicing topic will be so easy,” I said to myself. “Why, I can start off with the Biblical quotation which says ‘This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.’

“That will be a great way to open the speech. Then, I’ll say:

‘This is the day to rejoice. Yesterday is gone. Forevermore. Tomorrow has not come. Nor will it come. This day, only, is ours.’

“Goodness me, this may be the best speech I ever made!” And before I could get these thoughts on paper, more came:

“God, in His wisdom, arranged time for us this way, on purpose. He knew we couldn’t lean back and hold on to yesterday with one hand and jump forward and grasp tomorrow with the other hand and clasp today, all at the same time. It couldn’t be done.

“Man could not cope with the past and the future and the present, all at once. It is most fortunate that life comes to us in such a way that we can live it one day at a time.”

Quickly, I typed out the Biblical quotation and the next few lines. Then I couldn’t think of another thing to put in that time-to-rejoice speech.

The following day, while my little sewing circle (the Creative Stitchery group in the Enterprise Branch, American Association of University Women) was holding its regular session, I explained my predicament to the fourteen friends there.

They were all light-hearted and happy -- stitching away on their needlepoint, smocking, .quilting. And they talked and laughed over this and that. I had been reluctant to bother them, but I was worried about that Dothan speech.

“Please, girls,” I began, “give me some suggestions. Tell me just anything to say to those club ladies. Tell me why we should rejoice. Tell me what each person could rejoice about -- just something to fill out the speech. What can I say?”

The answers came in a shower.

“Tell them to rejoice because we live in America!”

“And because we live in Alabama!”

“Tell them to rejoice in adversity. Sometimes, what we think is a calamity turns out to be the best thing that ever happened to us.”

“Here, here, girls, just a minute. I’ve brought pencils and slips of paper. Write al1 this down for me. And I can quote you, verbatim.”

“No, no,” they protested. “We’ll just tell you, and you remember what we say.”

And they talked on. But some did write out their thoughts. Not one mentioned the diamonds on their fingers, the gold chains around their necks, the pretty houses in which they live, the boats and cars parked in their driveways, or any other possessions. Instead, what was written on the note paper and what was said went to this effect:

“I rejoice for two good children.”

“God’s creation … animals ... older folks ... a child’s smile.”

“I rejoice for friendships. The older I get the more important I think relationships and friendships are.”

“Rejoice over change and progress ... This is a grand century in which to be alive.”

“The miracle of birth.”

“As I look out my door each morning, I rejoice to see the sun as it rises, the flowers in bloom, the green appearing in the trees and grass, the chattering of the bluejays as they hunt for twigs and vines to build their nests.”

“I rejoice in the Bible.”

“Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say rejoice!”

So, with grateful heart, I gathered together these many ideas, added a pleasant story or two, and made the speech.

The Alabama club women clapped their hands a long time. Then every last one came up, shook my hand, and said that these thoughts from my fourteen friends would help them. Help them to live life one day at a time. And, help them to rejoice and be glad always.

Published June 1983. Click your browser’s “Back” button to return.