"Thanksgrieving" part 2...

"The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." Job 1:21b NKJV Here it is another Thanksgiving & CHRISTmas will be here soon. I'd like to say things are better this year than last, but it doesn't appear that way at all. Honestly, year 2 of widowhood has been harder than year 1--yet through it all, GOD has been good. My mind drifts back to seasons past when all seemed right with the world--at least from my limited perspective anyway. We take much for granted in this life. I assumed that Dee & I would have many happy years together. I never imagined that her life, and along with it the life we shared together, would end so soon. But, it did... Grief & sorrow are naturally part of our earthly life. As long as we live, we are subject to the ups & downs of life itself. Solomon spoke of such things in Ecclestiastes when he wrote, "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, And a time to die; A time to plant, And a time to pluck 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 cast away stones, And a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to gain, 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 of war, And a time of peace." (Ecclestiastes 3:1-8 NKJV) So, while I suspect it'll be some time (& maybe never) before I'm ready to dance--at least maybe I'm at the point I am ready to begin the healng process. GOD has begun to open doors of opportunity for me & finally, I feel I'm at a place where my experience & training may be put to Kingdom use. It is a good feeling to think all I have endured in life can help others in some way, or at least give me the insight I need to offer wise counsel on life issues. I don't know what the future holds, but I know who holds the future. I think maybe it's time to work towards moving forward and working on living, laughing & healing. I'd appreciate your prayers for my journey. Blessings! Tony