It’s funny how songs come to mind in the most random moments.  Have you experienced this?  You’ll be moseying around, completing a menial task, and a song will drill its way into your frontal lobe without your permission.  This happens to me all the time!  Songs from decades past will oftentimes take day-long vacations in my brain, hoping that I might throw them a ‘welcome back’ party by pulling them up on Spotify or Youtube.   These songs show up to the front door of my consciousness without an invitation.  They are rude house guests.  They are unwelcomed visitors.  And as I looked out of Jesher’s 7th floor window into the heart of the city, one of these classic intruders began playing a tune as I watched the sunset.  I was startled that a song from 1992 (26 years ago) would show up to serenade me as I watched the sky turn colors, but then again, I should have known it would pay me a visit.  It expressed the rhythm of my mind, body, and soul.  So I asked the tune to stay, because “Today Was A Good Day.”

The iconic Ice Cube hit is one that I have not thought about in ages.  Honestly, I didn’t here the song until around the year 2000.  I don’t have any epic stories of where I was when I first heard it or what car I was driving when I first played it.  I don’t even have any profound memories that are attached to it.  I probably thought about the song due to the exhale I had just released before my internal jukebox selected it for me (Note: my jukebox only plays the radio edited versions : ) .  But on March 21, 2018, I finally began to understand it. 

While I ‘people-watched’ from my high perch, the meaning behind the song became brilliantly clear to me.  For the first time in my life, I understood why the sentence–“Today was a good day”–is such a compelling statement.  I finally heard the true heart of the writer.  The focal point of the song is a person who has had a string of challenging days.  And this run of tough experiences profoundly magnified the bliss of one excellent day.  That’s what today was for me.  That’s what today was for Jesher.  “Today Was A Good Day.”

I stood staring through the blinds, smiling from ear-to-ear, praising God for the gift of not having to process through bad news.  In NICU, you cherish these moments because you don’t know when you will receive your next good day.  As you drive to the hospital, you pray for the strength to face the day, hoping you have enough faith to propel you into tomorrow.  You hold your breath as you exit the elevator and sign in…You hope that when you see the doctor, his or her face is relaxed and not furrowed.  Yes, you always want the truth, but you’ll take ‘encouraging truth’ over ‘concerning truth’ anytime you can get it.  Today we received the former; we got a break from the latter. “Today was a good day.”

Here is Jesher’s current medical report:

LUNGS–We saw a major improvement in Jesher’s breathing over the last 24 hours.  At one point today, Jesher got all the way down to breathing 25% oxygen (regular room air usually provides us with 21% oxygen) while maintaining a 91% saturation level and a 140 heart-rate.  For those who have not received medical training, suffice it to say that these are phenomenal improvements.  PLEASE ASK GOD TO FULLY RESTORE JESHER’S LUNG HEALTH SO THAT NO ONE COULD EVER TELL THAT HE ONCE NEEDED VENTILATOR BREATHING SUPPORT.

HEART–Jesher’s blood pressure numbers are indicating that his PDA [Patent ductus arteriosus] might have closed!  The doctor did warn us that PDAs in micro-preemies can open and close multiple times during their development.  But Lhorraine and I are claiming that God would close, and keep closed, Jesher’s PDA so that he can avoid a surgical procedure.  PLEASE PRAY FOR JESHER’S PDA TO BE CLOSED AND REMAIN CLOSED FOR THE REST OF HIS LIFE.

BLOOD–Jesher did require to blood transfusions over the past 24 hours.  His body is still struggling to generate enough red blood cells.  Red blood cells are key transporters of carbon dioxide.  They are the ones that carry the carbon to the lungs so that we can exhale it through our breathing.  Jesher has struggled to release his carbon dioxide due to a lack of red blood cell support.  PRAY THAT THE BLOOD OF GOD’S SON (JESUS) WOULD HEAL THE BLOOD OF MY SON (JESHER).

I don’t know what tomorrow will be like.  I can only hold on to the prophet Jeremiah’s promise that with each new morning there are “new mercies” waiting to greet us.  And Yahweh has been merciful.  The Lord has been gracious.  God has been good.  But his mercy, grace, and goodness don’t always yield a good day.  Sometimes, these three companions draw near to give us the necessary strength to survive a bad day.  They have done this for me multiple times over the past two weeks.  I’m just glad today wasn’t one of those soul-jarring days.  Today was different.  Today was better.  Today was needed.  “Today Was A Good Day.”

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”  Lamentations 3:22-23