Life Interrupted

Day 2

I have an awesome life. Although we live in Florida, we spend summers in New Hampshire – boating, jet skiing, riding through the gorgeous mountains on a Harley, and enjoying our friends and life. We’ve made it a point to always arrive before “Laconia Week”, a 7 day motorcycle rally during which time we’re able to catch up with a ton of old friends.

My boys spent every summer of their lives, through college, at the lake. So my last 20 plus summers have been more than enviable. Until now.

Instead of enjoying bike week, which kicked off last weekend, I’m at home getting ready to kick off a year of chemo and infusion drugs. Instead of “boat hair, don’t care” I’ll be saying goodbye to my hair. Instead of enjoying a multitude of fun activities with friends and family I’ll be weak and sick and exhausted. My life as I knew it is about to be drastically altered for the next 12 months. Wow, that’s a long time!

Still, I have a peace about it all. I’m grateful for all the years we’ve had, and all the years ahead of us, in complete confidence that “this too shall pass”. I’m overwhelmed by the outpouring of love that I’ve received from our friends and family. I’ve gained an even deeper understanding of commitment as my husband has held me close and told me that it doesn’t matter to him that my situation has interrupted our lives and our plans. And I know that once this is over, I’ll be even stronger than ever. My marriage will be stronger. My faith will be stronger. And along the line I may even be able to help some others.

Depending on your age, you may remember an old Yardbirds song, “Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season)”. Great song! Did you know that the lyrics were adapted right from the Bible?

Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verses 1-8
(New Living Translation)

A Time for Everything

1 For everything there is a season,
   a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
   A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
   A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
   A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
   A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
   A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
   A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
   A time for war and a time for peace.

If you really take some time to investigate, you’ll find that the Bible has a chapter for pretty much every circumstance you’ll ever encounter.

So no, I’m not happy to be entering this season. But I will accept everything that it brings, and look for God’s blessings even during the darkest days.

As you reflect on these Bible verses, what speaks to you? Please share….