A Time for Every Purpose (03/11/2024)

Yesterday we celebrated my husband’s 77th birthday, my daughter’s 53rd birthday, and my grandson’s 12th birthday. We gathered as a family, as is our practice, to celebrate the March birthdays. And as I watched the family enter in and the generations cluster together, I was reminded of Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is an appointed time for everything and a time for every purpose under heaven.”

The youngest three boys immediately fled to the lower level to talk and play games, the 20 somethings gathered around the family table for discussion and catch-up time, the 50’s group hovered, making sure everyone had what they needed. And my husband and I, the elders of the group in our 70s, took it all in, in wonder, recognizing the blessings present before us. While the youngest are trying to find their unique way, the 20 somethings are trying to build their lives having found their paths and their partners. The 50s crowd are in-between, hovering over their children while extending a helping hand to their elders. And we “elders” are counting our blessings.

We shared a meal – a make-your-own bowl, taco or burrito bar. It was amazing to watch the variations between the 11-year-old and the 56-year-old; the former went with a burrito with simply taco meat and some salsa, whereas the latter chose a bowl approach and had a layer of pretty much every option. We ate and chatted all the while. Catching up and joining in is what it’s all about.

Cleaning up was fun to watch. The rule of the household is “The Cook never does dishes!” So, I truly had a great vantage point as I watched the 20s join with the 50s to clear the dishes and figure out what to do with the leftovers. The conversation was a mixture of information seeking – “where does this go?” to “what are you planning for the summer?”

Finally, at about 4 p.m., we gathered for the birthday celebration itself. None of us really need cake, so instead of 3 cakes and needing to find homes for the leftovers, we went with one cake and the wax number candles. The three birthday people gathered around the cake, we sang a hearty version of “Happy Birthday” and then each blew out their appropriate 2 candles (77, 53, and 12). We clapped and then we immediately started serving cake and ice cream. Cleanup was a breeze since we used paper bowls.

Around 5, the grandkids with pets started to pack up because they knew they needed to go “take the dog out.” And slowly, each group gathered their stuff, gave their hugs, and the house emptied until it was just my husband and me. We looked at one another, let out a sigh of relief that the day had passed the “blood, flood, and fire” test (no one bled, we didn’t experience a leak, and nothing went up in smoke) and that we’d had another day with the family. I looked at my husband and asked, “Do you see what we started?”

Last night, before bed, I thanked the LORD for these lives that have so touched and blessed mine. I prayed that each would come to know the LORD’s role in their lives (the source of their being and of love itself) and their unique roles in this world. I prayed that each would always tend to the need of the other and that love would be their legacy in life.

We are all at different places in our journey, but we each can benefit from sharing the journey with others as companions, mentors, advocates, co-workers, as daughters and sons of the LORD, as disciples of Christ, as recipients of the Spirit’s grace. May we be blessed to know the purpose of each time and that each ultimately leads us home.

Until tomorrow, may we all love well.