1There is a time for everything
And a season for every activity under heaven.
2A time to be born and a time to die….
4A time to weep and a time to laugh.
4A time to mourn and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2, 4
Time is artistically painted on the canvases of our lives, expressed in the brushstrokes of the valleys and mountain tops we experience.
The valleys and mountains each are majestic from their view and unique perspective, both offering challenges and struggles yet delighting the eye from the artist’s layers of color and intricate detail, regardless the compass direction our faces must turn to soak in its wonder based on our foots position.
Mountains are tall and strong, fully alive calling those in the valley to come forth, to begin their ascent to the mountain’s highest peak, its summit, a holy place where God often encounters His people.
God spoke to Moses from a burning bush on Mount Horeb.
God tested Abraham’s heart on Mount Moriah and sent an angel to stay Abraham’s hand before sacrificing his son Isaac.
God wants to encounter us in the high places, sending us changed as we make our descent down the mountain, to then encounter other lost and broken hearts for the Kingdom.
Valleys are low places book-ended between vast mountains. Valleys are a place of rest with God along green pastures beside the quiet rivers running through; a safe place where the Shepherd’s rod and staff comforts even in the shadow of death. It is in the valley experience where we learn to trust a good and faithful God, a place of dependence giving Him permission to restore our soul.
(Psalm 23 NIV)
1There is a time for everything
And a season for every activity under heaven.
2A time to be born and a time to die….
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2
On Sunday, September 20, 2020 God chose this day to be the last day for our mother’s life this side of eternity.
At 9:52 pm our mother entered the gates of heaven, falling into the Lord’s embrace for the first time on the other side of eternity.
As a family we rejoice as our mother received her eternal reward, yet must now reconcile God’s truth in our hearts,
“There is a time to be born, and a time to die…”
Ecclesiastes 3:2
Though undeniably a families heartbreaking loss, might our hearts be somewhat comforted and quieted as innocent children like our sweet granddaughter Ayva who understands from the simple pages of a child’s book written from her view in the valley, “Grandma is now with Jesus.”
Ayva doesn’t fear because she knows and trusts this same Jesus to comfort her by the quiet waters along the green pastures she sits.
1There is a time for everything
And a season for every activity under heaven.
Ecclesiastes 3:1
There is a time to say good-by.
There is a time to be comforted in good-by…
There is a time to touch one last time in good-by…
1There is a time for everything
And a season for every activity under heaven.
2A time to be born and a time to die….
4A time to weep and a time to laugh.
4A time to mourn and a time to dance.
Ecclesiastes 3:1, 2, 4
And a Time to Go On…
On Sunday, September 20, 2020 at 9:52 pm our mother left us, but at 9:53 pm that same evening, the second hand of time continued to make its way around the clock, signaling that Time Must Go On.
Probably the most difficult about saying good-by is embracing the
“valley back to the mountain experience” of
going on.
Though paralyzed in grief, traffic doesn’t pull over for the grieving.
Flags aren’t lowered to honor the heartbroken.
The heartbeat of time never flat lines.
The rhythm of life continues to breathe in and breathe out.
There is a time for everything,
There is a time to go on.
September 20, 2020 is a mile marker we find ourselves looking back in the rear view mirror from. Trying to go on, yet the rear view mirror of our mother’s life calls us to reflect back, to remember, to want another moment with her, to maybe deny that she ever left.
The most painful realization of this September 20th mile marker for me is the silent telephone and not hearing my mother’s voice on the other line anymore when I call. Our time together was usually at night or especially during my 45 minute ride home after Life Group on Tuesday nights from church. Mother kept me company along the dark roads until I was safe behind closed doors again. In the silence of my car ride alone, I’ve tried to listen to my mother’s gospel music she used to have playing in the house. But credited to my heart’s sadness, could barely get thru a single song.
The countless times I’ve searched my contact list to see mother’s number still saved on my phone; I don’t have the heart to delete a disconnected number, especially my mother’s. On occasion I have dialed for another conversation with my mother, hoping for a miracle she’d find the time to take my call in heaven.
I am already feeling the weight of the upcoming holidays on the vacancy of my heart. Her empty seat at the table will require God’s presence to overcome the loss of hers.
Navigating the “firsts” of the next twelve months without my mother can be unbearable unless I find a place to rest among the green pastures of the valley, to surrender to the still waters where my Jesus can restore my soul.
In time, we must laugh again.
We must dance again.
Yes, there will be tears.
Yes there will be mourning.
There is a time for everything,
And yes,
There is a Time to Go On.
The mountains, tall and majestic and fully alive are calling those in the valley to look up and come forth, to begin their ascent to the mountain’s highest peak, its summit, a holy place where God wants to encounter His people.
There is a time for everything,
And as for me, a time to write again.
There is a time to remember what God has done, what God has given, what God has blessed. A time to remember a mother who gave us life;
A praying mother who introduced her six children to Jesus.
There is a time for everything…
A time to remember.
Just the other day while driving with my three year old granddaughter Aubrey in her car seat, she looked from her window and screamed with excitement,
“Oh look Gaga, there’s grandma’s house.”
How did a three year old remember this view from just a few weeks ago?
We will never forget you mother.
Yes, we will look from time to time the rear-view mirror to remember all that you were to us.
Your family will never forget…
No matter that Time, With or Without Our Permission, Must Go On.
