This is my favorite time of year. It’s not just a holiday or a season, it’s a whole quarter of a year or longer. I love the start of school, fall colors, birthdays in October, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year. I am an anticipation person and this whole time of year is wrapped in the anticipation of schools start with buying new supplies and school clothes to the anticipation of the trees turning colors and the cool air coming in and then the anticipation of birthdays and holidays. These are the best of times for me.
But this year is different. Mom died in February and we have slowly hit some of the first year events without her. Like in June it would have been my parent’s 50th Anniversary. I wanted them to celebrate, but it just seems a little empty. Instead, dad was at a memorial service for the pastors and pastors wives who have died in the past year. It should have been their big celebration. It was a little quiet that afternoon when dad came over. Now it’s fall and tomorrow is mom’s birthday. It will be the first one without her and then of course Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years will all be the first without her. She was a holiday person. We cleaned out the house and she had hundreds of holiday napkins and decorations and so much more to celebrate the holiday’s. I think she is part of the reason, I love this time of year so much.
It may seem like the worst of times, admittedly I have shed a few tears yesterday and today remembering her this week, but it is still the best of times. It is the best of times, because when we remember a loved one we remember the best about them. This was also her best time of year. She was a fall colors person. And no matter what happens, this is still my best time of year. I will still anticipate the cooler weather and the day the fall colors seem their brightest. I will anticipate my birthday at the end of October and Halloween and Thanksgiving and Christmas and the New Year. I hope one day we will be adding some new things in life to anticipate in this time of year, until then I trust God to continue to bless our family and the joy of the season and the holidays. I know God has blessed my mother with an eternal home and the is the Best of Times.
I pray that you know the Father and the Son who complete the plan of our salvation. If you do not, drop me a line and we’ll talk. I hope that everyone would know the Best of Times.
