I was born on June 19, 1942. I looked up the day to see which day of the week it was, and I was born on a Friday. If you’re old enough to remember the old nursery rhymes, the poem “Monday’s Child,” was designed to help children learn the order of each day of the week.  When I was younger and learning these rhymes, I had a tendency and still do, to wonder about such things. Who makes up these words? Here is the poem in its entirety.

Monday’s child is fair of face,
Tuesday’s child is full of grace,
Wednesday’s child is full of woe,
Thursdays child has far to go,
Fridays child is loving and giving,
Saturday’s child works hard for his living,
And the child that is born on the Sabbath day
Is bonny and blithe, and good and gay;

“Thursday’s child has far to go.” I suppose this could be because the week is almost over and it seems like the end is finally near, but it will return again next week.  It might have to do with not being able to accomplish what we set out to do on Monday.  Maybe Mother Goose simply couldn’t think of anything else to write that rhymed. The fact that I wonder about such things, gives one pause.

Some folks like to analyze these old verses. For example, some believe that Thursday’s child might be the child with special needs. Some think that it refers to the obstacles children run into during the week and by Thursday, they’re ready to throw in the towel. David Bowie and Reeves Gabrels wrote the music and lyrics for

Thursday was one of the most difficult days for our Lord, Jesus.  On that day of Holy week His Holy Supper was instituted.  He discussed  His coming death, behaved like a servant and washed His disciples’ feet –  foretold the betrayal of one disciple and the denial of another – prayed to the point of sweating blood in the garden where He often went to pray – replaced a man’s ear without surgery – was arrested for preaching the truth – was accused of blasphemy, placed before a kangaroo court and treated brutally by his accusers.

Most of us will never experience such suffering.   Our days may have ups and downs, but they will be nothing like the Thursday of Holy Week.  When we arrive at the end of our week, let’s be reminded of the great cost paid for our redemption.  Because of Jesus love, we all have the promise of being full of grace.  Heaven is waiting for those who believe that the price for our ransom has been paid by God Himself.