In my favorite book of Scripture, there are many lines that resonate with me. One of those is this one: “Behold, what I have seen to be good and fitting is to eat and drink and find enjoyment in all the toil with which one toils under the sun the few days of his life that God has given him, for this is his lot” (Eccl. 5:18).

This morning I officiated at another military funeral honors at the military veterans’ cemetery in our town. Today’s ceremony was for a Marine. I chatted with the firing team before the ceremony, the men who’d fire the volleys as taps was played. I spoke with the two young Marines, too, who’d unfurl and refold the flag. Both were logisticians as Marines, and the senior NCO, a GySgt, and I spoke of his upcoming transfer out to Washington from Georgia, and of his bride-to-be, a woman completing graduate school in Georgia.

When I concluded my remarks at the funeral honors, and told the Marines, “Proceed with honors!” and the bugler began playing taps, the next-of-kin, the wife of the deceased Marine, burst into tears. It’s not uncommon, but it’s always visceral–to see the tears come, then the shaking, then the wailing.

The Marines folded the flag and presented to the Marine’s bride. She clutched the flag and her whole body shook as she wept. The Marines and I marched back to our cars after we concluded our roles. I shook hands again with the young Marines and we all went our separate ways.

After the day wore on, it occurred to me it was Friday evening. I took CJ out to a steakhouse chain we frequent. We had a wonderful waitress, Yolanda, who chatted with us about our mutual love of dogs. She spoke of Bailey, her bulldog, and we listened and smiled.

We ate our salads and I ate my steak, and we drove afterwards to pick up a sportcoat for me from a local retail store, and then came home for the evening. I read for a bit, and then graded some of my college students’ papers, and reached over to pet our family dog, Ladybug, with regularity, where she snored on her chair beside my desk.

After a few more papers, I’ll read until I grow tired. I have an early morning tomorrow, as I’ll go to pick up supplies from a fellow pastor-friend of mine. Their church has graciously come alongside ours to support us. In ministry, such like-minded brothers are a blessing.

CJ is in the living room working on music for Sunday at church, and as I sit with papers to grade before me and listen to Ladybug snore, and my belly is full from a good meal, my cup is full. I am like the man in Solomon’s Ecclesiastes 5:18. I love my toil, the fatigue that comes at the end of the evening as the wind comes through the window screens, and CJ plays upon her piano, and as we prepare for gathering with the saints this coming Lord’s Day at Christ Covenant Church, my cup is full and I am grateful.