After a friend’s two-year-old son died, I was sharing my struggle with this toddler’s untimely death, when my Dad remarked, “Yes, so sad, but when viewed through the lens of eternity, whether we die at two or ninety-two, it’s all but in the blink of an eye.” My Dad now faces death at a ripe old age, and I see that even ninety-five years is but in the blink of an eye. While keeping vigil with Dad, we hauled out slides from the early years of family life—my youthful Mom and Dad celebrating our baptisms, first holy communions, birthday parties, Christmas mornings, grade school programs, and high school graduations. It all flashed by in the blink of an eye. Every single New Year surprises me, “Again? So soon? Didn’t we just turn the page of a new year?” A deep sigh sets in remembering resolutions not kept, goals unmet, and dreams unfulfilled. Yet the New Year also reminds us of the grace promised for another year—month, week, day, hour, minute, second—to live fully alive in Christ. The calendar flips in the blink of an eye. No matter how brief or extended, life passes quickly; our children grow and leave home in a heartbeat and a loved one enters his eternal home in a moment. Life passes in the blink of an eye, yet it gives us each enough time to do God’s will when lived through the lens of eternity. My Dad’s ninety-five-years have been long yet his life has passed in the blink of an eye. But, oh, the legacy of faith, family, love, and service he has left in that one blink! So this New Year, live wisely—through the lens of eternity—to complete God’s mission of love in your one blink of an eye! “The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!” For now and eternity! May God bless you in abundance in 2019~ Thank you for taking the time to read this reflection. Always feel free to leave a comment or to contact me at www.marypedersen.com. |
ReflectionsThe blog on this page presents reflections on the Sunday readings through the lens of a parent/grandparent, aiding leaders of the domestic church in their vital task as “first heralds” or “first preachers” of the Good News in the home. Archives
December 2021
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