During the run up to Christmas I was hoping to write a series of short reflections about Mary, focusing on her emotions relating to the first Christmas Story. As usual, time ran away with me and energy levels dipped once stuffings were made, presents wrapped and children fast asleep. The result is no blog for a while! However, there is always next year to write something on the Christmas story, and if I start writing some reflections in September then I might manage it!
So for me the new year started in a way which really brought home to me how wonderful life can be, but also how fragile it is. We spent a wonderful time with family and friends over Christmas, celebrating, laughing, eating, giving and receiving gifts; we spent New Year's Eve celebrating at the wedding of some friends; another day filled with love, fun, and excitement about what the future holds. In all the celebrations of Christmas, God was present; the unseen guest at our table, the peace in our souls, the love in our hearts.
We then received some really tragic news on New Years Day about the sudden death of a 9 year old girl who came to some of the church groups we run.
So where is God when a young girl has her life snatched away? I am really wrestling with this and still don't have an answer, but am trying to believe that God is present and that God will continue to make Himself known to this little girl's family as they are upheld in prayer by the local Christian community.
If I am honest one of my first thoughts was also to my own children: thank you God that they are safe and healthy; please God protect and keep them. Is this selfish, or is this a natural reaction in such circumstances? I don't know, but I trust that God understands my thoughts and prayers for my own children as I also pray for others.
I guess one of the things that this tragic death has bought home to me is that at times we will not understand the things that God allows to happen in our lives or the lives of those people we are close to.
Yet in all things, and for whatever the year ahead holds, what we can do is trust God to be the ever present Almighty guiding our paths and enfolding us in His love.
A wonderful verse follows which I think is a great thing for us all to remember as we contemplate the year ahead:
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
My prayer for myself and those I love is that at all times we will know the unfailing love and unwavering strength of our Father who calls us to Himself.
