To Everything There Is A Season

To everything there is a season,
 and a time to every purpose under the heaven.  
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, 
and a time to pluck up what is planted; . . . 
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to embrace. . . a time to keep silence 
and a time to speak; a time to love, 
and a time to hate; . . . 
What gain has the worker for his toil?  
I have seen the business that God has given 
to the sons of men to be busy with.  
He has made everything beautiful in its time . . . 
                                                                                                                                                       Ecclesiastes 3: 1 - 11

My husband and I recently attended the 60th wedding anniversary of some friends. Sixty years is a long time. Although they were concerned that no one will come, the attendance was huge, and they will be reading cards for days if not weeks.

When I was younger, I could not imagine being married,

 being a mother, and never gave thought of those "grandmother" years

 or the possibility of being married to someone forever.

My husband and I have been married over forty years; 

and even though we have had the ups and downs, 

we have surely been blessed.

When spending time with my son and daughter-in-law recently, we found
ourselves examining photographs from the early 1900's. I asked,
"What period of time would you like to go back to if you could?"
My daughter-in-law thought the 1950's would be a good time--
antibiotics had been discovered, and clothes were less cumbersome.
Interesting, I thought. My son thought that his life today was great.
When we pressed him with, Oh come on, play along, 
you have a time machine at your disposal,
he changed his answer to "yesterday."
Smiling, he stated that life was good for him,
and he didn't want to go anywhere else--
an answer that any mother may be pleased with.

Lovely, complicated wrappings

Sheath the gift of one-day-more;

Breathless, I untie the package--

I never lived this day before!

         Gloria Gaither

When it was my turn,
 my first response
 was the late 1800's;
society was changing so quickly at this time;
historical changes were happening. And, then,
 my next thought was why not return to Biblical times 
when Jesus walked the earth?  It would be dusty, dirty,
and so very unlike our clean, cool, efficient houses and work places, but what an insight. The Bible would come alive in a different way because I had been there.



For everything there is a season . . .

Whatever your stage or place in life is at this moment, I encourage you to stay strong, believe in God's purpose for your life and then, continue. Endure.

Patience is the companion of wisdom.

What gain has the worker from his toil?  I have seen the business that God has given to the sons of men to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time . . . Ecclesiastes 3: 11

A Prayer for Today:
Lord, as I take the next steps on my life's journey, let me take them with You. Whatever this day may bring, I thank You for the opportunity to live abundantly. Let me lean upon You, father--and trust You--this day and forever. Amen 
                                     365 Daily Devotions For Women

Wishing you God's unexpected blessings this week.