I have heard stories through the years of people who actually wake up early in the morning and sit in their comfy chair, while drinking their cup of coffee, and reading. I have pictured it so many times in my minds eye that I can see it quite clearly. What a beautiful thought.  In my house though, when all her people are present and accounted for, this never happens. Ever. In fact, I am not sure I have sat down for over five years within the walls of my house without someone asking me a question, or requesting something that requires me to get up, or crawling not just in my lap but in front of my face insisting that I pay attention to anything but what I am trying to pay attention to.  Even now as I write this, my cat is sitting at my feet meowing and my five year old is running in circles around my chair and telling me the chair has enough room for us both. It doesn’t but that won’t stop him. So much for a quiet early morning. Now before you hear all of this as a complaint, know this. Even as I long for quite mornings, I recognize that one day I will miss the loud ones. All too soon, I will get what I long for while losing what I have.  Such is the nature of life.  

The writer of Ecclesiastes captured this beautifully in the 3rd chapter when he said:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; 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 to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.”

Each space in life, he seems to be saying, is but a temporary resting place. Nothing, on this earth lasts forever.  Maybe it is that you are in a particularly challenging season of life. Maybe you are in a grief season or a season of health challenges. Maybe you are in a season where everything is coming together and joy is your constant companion. Wherever you find yourself remember that each day brings with it opportunities to learn and grow in Christ. In the low moments look for the things for which you can still be grateful.  In the high moments invite Christ to show you how you might use such a season to honor him. Above all remember, this particular day will never come again.  So use it well.  God is with you.  You are not alone.

Until next time,
Leslie