A friend of ours welcomed her first grandchild in July. Just before Thanksgiving, her 100 year old mother died. At Christmas she sent a beautiful card that had a picture of her mother on one side and a picture of her granddaughter on the flip side. The caption was from Ecclesiastes 3: for everything there is a season, a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted.
What a wonderful statement of faith! Too often we get stuck in only one season. In the frigid temperatures of winter and the grey skies, our focus can be only on the sad and miserable. When we only think about today and don’t look to the future, we can be easily depressed.
My friend not only looked to the future for her but also to the future of the infant welcomed into the family. It was an affirmation not only of the love she had for her mother, but also the hope she had for a new tomorrow. In our coming time of reflection, let us fully appreciate all the seasons and remember the ultimate season of hope brought to us by the Christ.
~ Rev. Dr. Fred Leasure, Parish Associate