Seven Years…

… Does it ever end?

That’s an interesting question…

Seven years ago, our family looked something like this:

My goodness… a lot can change in seven years…

Seven years ago, today, I…

… Attended a livestock auction…

… Had my heart broken into a million pieces…

… Made a baby…

It was quite a day, to say the least…

I like George Santayana’s quote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. I have always liked this quote. And I have also found it true.

Unfortunately, it seems that many people just want to forget. Sometimes, I want to forget. But then… I remember…

I remember…

“…that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us…” (Romans 5:3b-5a NIV)

… that we grow more from failure than success…

… that I am broken, and I do not need to be fixed…

… that God places people in our lives… and places us in the lives of people… and sometimes we have to say, “good-bye” to say, “hello”…

Oh… my friends of seven years past…

I remember you.

I have loved watching you grow.

I have laughed… and cried… and prayed over you… and I still do…

You are my friends… and my family… and my home…

But…

On this day… seven years later…

I have been reminded…

…that life moves on for you, without us… and that life moves on for us, without you…

… that God loves people… everywhere… and He wants us to love them, too…

… that God can provide “family” anywhere you go… (although the older I get, the more I take on new “kids” as opposed to new “siblings”, which has a different dynamic altogether…)

… that what is intended for evil can unquestionably be used for good…

So, does it ever end? That was the question, right?

Does what ever end?

The pain? No, not really… but it fades with forgiveness; and peace and hope help…

The love? Never… and it only grows with time…

Do not forget. Shed some tears. Fully embrace God’s next chapter.

“Faith My Eyes”
By: Caedmon’s Call

As I survey the ground for ants
Looking for a place to sit and read
I'm reminded of the streets of my hometown
How they're much like this concrete that's warm beneath my feet

And how I'm all wrapped up in my mother's face
With a touch of my father just up around the eyes
And the sound of my brother's laugh
But more wrapped up in what binds our ever distant lives

But if I must go
Things I trust will be better off without me
But I don't want to know
Life is better off a mystery

So keep'em coming these lines on the road
And keep me responsible be it a light or heavy load
And keep me guessing with these blessings in disguise
And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes

Hometown weather is on TV
I imagine the lives of the people living there
And I'm curious if they imagine me
Cause they just wanna leave; I wish that I could stay

And to visit places from my past
But only for an hour or so
Which is long enough to smell the air
To tell the tale and find the door

But I get turned around
I mistake some happiness for blessing
But I'm blessed as the poor
Still I judge success by how I'm dressing

So I'll sing a song of my hometown
I'll breathe the air and walk the streets
Maybe find a place to sit and read
And the ants are welcome company

And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes.
And I'll walk with grace my feet and faith my eyes.

Lisa