To Everything There is a Season

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what 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 throw 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 throw away;

a time to tear, 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.

Another season has flowed into another, like a river rippling the sand as it flows to the ocean.

Yesterday it was summer.  Today it is fall.  In a few weeks, I will mark the advent of my 68th birthday.  I'm old.  I've seen many seasons under the heavens.  I've seen more seasons than I will in the future.  In other seasons, I had a lot more energy than I do in this season.  I have health issues that I didn't have in other seasons.  In spite of my pink hair, I am aging.  My skin is wrinkled.  I need stronger glasses than I have in other seasons.  Yes, age is catching up with me.

What have I learned in all these years?  

I've learned that I must put God ahead of all else.  He is above all else.  He is the great I AM.  Although there are those who call me ancient, He truly is Ancient and Immortal.  He is I AM.

 I've learned that I cannot become a better person on my own.  I have learned that I have to rely on God for everything.  I am not self sufficient.   God gives His graces and gifts to all, but not all accept them.  I am learning to accept His gifts with humility, at least, some humility and gratitude, even if I feel that His gifts are not what I wanted.  God knows best, not me.  (I'm still working on this.)

 I've learned that all prayers are answered.  Sometimes, prayers are answered just as we asked.  Sometimes, when we think that God does not hear our prayers, I've learned that God is leaving  the solution up to us.  We have the gift of free will, and God will not interfere with that gift.  Sometimes, God simply says no.  He knows what is best for our salvation, and He is willing to deny us that which we ask for in prayer.

I've learned, that the Mother of God wants to help lead all of her children to her Son.  She is our Mother, and we are her children.  This is her job.  She prays for us daily and desires that all of God's children be saved.  She is the new Arc of the Covenant.

I've learned that prayer is essential to life.  Like breathing sustains our physical life, prayer sustains our spiritual life.  Without prayer, our souls dry and wither.  With prayer, we blossom and grow closer to God. 

I've learned that our experiences change us, especially those that cause us great suffering and sorrow.  We can choose to become bitter as we suffer, or we can offer our sorrows to God and join with Jesus in redemptive suffering to save souls.  Of course, we'll be changed by our sufferings.  We should be!  

God purifies us in our sufferings and He seeks to bring us closer to Him.  This means change.  We cannot change without experience, and, if we allow God to lead us, we will grow in purity of spirit and grow closer to God.

I've learned that if  you write too long, people quit paying attention.  I'm stopping here.  

Praise God!