To Everything There Is A Season

My husband, as a pastor, has helped people grieving the loss of their loved ones for over 35 years. He has stood by the bedside of many as they took their last breath and has officiated at over 265 funerals during his ministry.  As his wife, I have been privileged to be a support to him.  We know that death is a part of living.......we will all come to that day when we leave our earthly bodies and join the Lord and those we love in Heaven.  Knowing that we will see those we love again somehow eases the pain just a bit when someone we love dies. We grieve with hope during these seasons of mourning.

My husband has also been privileged to baptise close to 200 babies during this time and present them to our Lord. There is a sense of hope with each new life beginning as the parents present their child to God.  Years of love and growing far beyond our vision.  A season of joy.

Saturday...........

Our friends welcomed their first grandson into the world.  He was born weighing only 4lbs 9oz.,  having arrived a month early.  This little guy is completely healthy and  has melted the hearts of his grandparents and loved ones. A new life beginning. A season of joy.

Sunday.............

The end of December we went to a family gathering at my brother and his fiance Jeannie's home where we met Jeannie's parents.  We spent a few hours with them, enjoying their company.  We spoke of seeing them again at Todd and Jeannie's wedding next summer~ they were so excited............and then Sunday the unexpected happened.  Jeannie's mom died suddenly from a heart attack.  The vibrant life of a woman well-loved ended.  So shocking.  So heartwrenching.  So sad for those who call her mom, grandma, sister, friend.  A season of mourning.

 Birth brings us into the world and death removes us from the world.  It is what takes place between those two major events that tells the world who we are.  Our birth and our death are the bookends of what we call our life journey.  There are no guarantees that we will live a long life, because living in a fallen world makes life unpredictable, fragile, and precious. Yes, every moment is precious.

I have been reading Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts and linking up with her on Mondays HERE. I am truly learning to appreciate those special and ordinary moments that make life a blessing as I keep my journal close by to write my list of gifts in.  Today, as I think about these two bookends of life beginning and life ending I want to share with you what I am grateful for.  I am so grateful for the first breath our friend's grandson too as he entered the world.  The  promises that come with the birth of a new baby.  The pictures shared across the miles in just a click,  so we could share in the joy.   As I remember the time we visited with Jeannie's parents, I remember the twinkle in her mother's eye as she teased me in the kitchen.  I am also grateful for the time Joel and I spent with them privately.  I am grateful I was able to see the deep love Jeannie and her mom have for each other.  There easy mother-daughter connection.  

Lord, help me remember to cherish the moments we have........see the beauty in the ordinary...and breathe in the essence of those that surround us with their love.  To everything there is a season.