110 days since my Dad went home to be with the Lord.

I hadn’t really thought too much about how many days it had been until I was sitting at my desk the other day and heard a beautiful solo piano arrangement of the old hymn, “Day by Day” playing on the radio.

I went in search of the words, and in the process, I found out that the hymn writer and I have some things in common.

Karolina Sandell-Berg was Swedish.  I’m half Swedish.  Her father was a preacher.  So was mine.  Her father died unexpectedly.  Mine, too.  In spite of tragedy and overwhelming loss, she learned that God was wise and kind and merciful and trustworthy.

I can’t write hymns to express it like she did.  But I’ve learned those same things. Some of the past 110 days have been more difficult than others.  But God is still wise and kind and merciful and trustworthy…on all the days…and with each passing moment…

Day by day, and with each passing moment,
Strength I find, to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment,
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He Whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best—
Lovingly, its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

Every day, the Lord Himself is near me
With a special mercy for each hour;
All my cares He fain would bear, and cheer me,
He Whose Name is Counselor and Pow’r.
The protection of His child and treasure
Is a charge that on Himself He laid;
“As thy days, thy strength shall be in measure,”
This the pledge to me He made.

Help me then in every tribulation
So to trust Thy promises, O Lord,
That I lose not faith’s sweet consolation
Offered me within Thy holy Word.
Help me, Lord, when toil and trouble meeting,
E’er to take, as from a father’s hand,
One by one, the days, the moments fleeting,
Till I reach the promised land.

“Day by Day” by Karolina W. Sandell-Berg, 1865

Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day.  2 Corinthians 4:16

Give us day by day our daily bread.  Luke 11:3

From the rising of the sun to its going down The LORD’s name is to be praised.  Psalm 113:3