It Has Been Good

This morning I am savoring. My past and my present. I’m reminiscing and savoring the moments.

This morning during my quiet time, I was reminded what time is to God and how different for me:

A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night. (Psalm 90:5)

I like to reflect on the past sometimes. I like to plan for the future. Both are good things to do. This past month is full of memories. The memories of loss, yes. But also memories of God’s sustaining love during those times. I learned how close Jesus can be during extreme loss. He was there in the lonely nights. The glaring empty days. When I felt I would choke with sadness. Since those times of loss, I experience “watches in the night” as the above Scripture passage mentions. Sleep just doesn’t come. Sometimes I read. Sometimes I try to ignore the clock and attempt sleep. Sometimes I pray. Other times I quote memorized Bible verses. Last night I was awake a lot again, but this time, I thought about memories and how blessed I am for my rich life. Not rich so much in money, but rich in memories. A happy childhood. A long marriage full of challenges, yet rich in good memories and two wonderful children. I thought about how God has given me second chances at love. I never thought I’d love again after Bill died, but discovered I could and did when Blair came into my life. He’d been wounded by loss, too, and together, we loved. Soon, he was gone in death and I was alone again. It might sound strange, but I knew the drill. That I would be very sad and I’d have to work through the sadness and savor my past. Miracle of all, I was given yet another chance at love–a third chance. This time, so far, God has granted Jim and I six years (and nearly three months). It has been good. None of us knows what’s around the next bend, but this I know:

For the Lord is good.
His unfailing love continues forever,
and his faithfulness continues to each generation. (Psalm 100:5)

How about you? Do you have some good memories to reflect back on? Do you have things you can thank God for? I love this song and it runs through my head often.