Jeannie woke up this morning and thought something different. What do I mean?

Well, every morning since the initial diagnosis, her first thought on waking up has been “I’ve got cancer”. And that pretty much set the tone for the day.

This morning, after a successful operation and an all-clear, her first thought on waking up was, “I don’t have cancer!” And you can imagine how that has affected the rest of her day!

Why am I sharing this? Because it’s a fact that each new morning is a gift denied to many, and the beginning of the rest of our lives. A new beginning. And you don’t have to wait for something serious like a life-threatening illness to do it.

A fresh start. How often do we look for something like that? There will be a new one on your doorstep in the morning. Embrace it like Jeannie has!

He was sitting on the grass in a city-centre park, calling out blessings to passers-by and wishing them all a happy day.

Most folk, I think, assumed he was drunk or on drugs. I hesitated long enough to see a young woman approach him – and be ignored by him. She sat a sandwich and a coffee beside him. Then she surprised me by bending over and kissing the top of his head.

I caught her eye and said, “That was really kind.”

She replied, “He’s my grandad.” She hesitated, searching for what else to say. Then she settled for, “It’s not easy.”

I’m sure. Which made it all the more wonderful!

All of those on the fringes of society would once have been loved by someone, and perhaps still are.

It’s not easy, but let’s bear that in mind when we’re deciding whether to help, or walk on by.