Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
For everything its season, and for every activity under heaven its time:
a time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to uproot;
a time to kill and a time to heal;
a time to break down and a time to build up;
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time for mourning and a time for dancing;
a time to scatter stones and a time for gathering them;
a time to embrace and a time to abstain from embracing;
a time to seek and a time to lose;
a time to keep and a time to discard;
a time to tear and a time to mend;
a time for silence and a time for speech;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.
Shepherd Andrew Mills
22.5 inches long
10 lbs. 4 oz.
My precious nephew Shep was born Tuesday in Fort Worth. I just can't wait to get my hands on him! Little Boy and I are planning a trip to visit them soon (maybe next week? What do you think, Jen? We'll talk.).
And the very next day, on Wednesday, my Papaw ended his battle with leukemia and went home to the Lord. Here, he is pictured with my Mamaw when we all gathered to celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary earlier this year. I love how happy they both look in this picture!
The above passage from Ecclesiastes was the scripture John and I chose for our wedding. I love how it juxtaposes all these things we do in life. What we may forget, though, is that life is happening all at once. We may find ourselves celebrating a new life and mourning a death all at the same time.
Even now, in my garden, I need to plant some more lettuce for fall harvest AND uproot the finished tomato plants.
At Papaw's funeral service, it was a time to weep for our own loss -- loss of a friend, grandfather, dad, and husband. But, it was also a time to rejoice -- rejoice in a life that was so well lived, in a loved one finally healed, in our hope that we'll see him again.
That's life. We can't neatly compartmentalize our joyous times and keep them separate from our times of loss and sadness. Sometimes the two come piggy-backing upon us. How are we to deal with that? What are we to do?
Praise God from whom all blessings flow.
Praise him, all creatures here below.
Praise him above, ye heavenly hosts.
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Please continue to pray for sweet Shep and his family (especially my sister Jenny as she continues to recover). And, please pray also for my family, especially my Mamaw as she learns how to walk on in this life without Papaw by her side.