The
Seasons of Life
There is a time for everything, and a
season for every activity under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1
For the Bowman family, July 2, 2011,
wasn’t what you could call a normal day. As Jeff related the day’s
schedule, I found myself reflecting on how the cycle of life is
repeated.
“We’re having a party for Dad and
Mom’s sixty-fifth wedding anniversary today!” Jeff proudly
announced.
“Wow! That’s awesome!” I said.
“That’s a huge testament to their devotion and commitment!” I
understood the kind of devotion and commitment it took for a marriage
to last that long; my parents had just celebrated their sixty-third
in June.
“My daughters, Brenda and Danielle,
won’t be there for the party though,” he said, a little
disappointed. “But that’s okay. They both have something equally
as important going on.”
He continued, “Brenda, our oldest, is
at her sister-in-law’s wedding. She made the cake!”
Well,” I said, “hopefully her
sister-in-law will make it to sixty-five too!”
With sadness in his voice, Jeff shared,
“Our youngest, Danielle, is at her father-in-law, Jim’s funeral.”
I had known Jim. He’d been diagnosed
with liver cancer just eight months ago. He was only sixty-two.
“Yeah, that was sad. He’ll really be missed. It sounds like a day
of reflection.”
“Yep…makes a man think,” Jeff
said.
†
In the time between our birth and
physical death we will see and experience things that will bring us
joy, sorrow, and every emotion in between. There will be challenges
beyond what we think we are equal to, and only a strong faith in God
will see us through the storms of hardship and loss we are sure to
face.
Solomon, in today’s text, assures us
that although we feel like it, we are not unique; we will all
experience sorrow and death, weeping and mourning, but there will
also be fulfillment and jubilation in the living.
In the end it’s all about family and
relationships…love and sacrifice. God wants us to know that when we
have difficult days, we can face them with confidence and hope for
the future; a future in which we walk hand in hand with Him…through
every season.
Prayer
“Thank You, Father, for
giving me life, for walking with me daily, and for giving me the
promise of all my tomorrows to be spent with You. Amen.”
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