Skip to main content

One Golden Moment

We sit laughingly around the huge mound of presents under the tree in the big living at my parent’s home on High Street in Philadelphia. The doorbell rings. In bounds the ones for whom we’re waiting, my sister and her husband and children from Virginia. . Here we all are, all of us together. My own husband, sons and I have flown in from the West Coast to spend the holidays on the East Coast. Tons of presents together with squiggly grandchildren and aunts, uncles and grandparents make for a memorable scene. For me it’s a golden moment in time. All is right in the world.

Christmas tree lights twinkle. Someone takes up the task to start calling names. Will we ever get through all of these presents? As the presents are picked up for distribution they seem to uncover another dozen hiding underneath. Well, there are eight brothers and sisters who have produced 12 grandchildren at this point. Such delight from squealing boys and girls and agreeing oohs and aahs from parents aunts and uncles. It is a golden moment in time. Three complete generations in one room: Mothers, Fathers, grandfather, grandmother and grandchildren, aunts and uncles. Fragrant smells from a waiting feast fill the air. It is indeed a golden moment in time.

Today as I think, and reflect on this distant scene I realize now that my golden moment was not everyone’s golden moment, for indeed my parents must have missed their mothers and fathers, their brothers and sisters. Yet now I see, this circle of life goes on. We have concentric circles. While one circle ripples and fades away another stone is splashed into the circle of life and begins its effects.

Yet my golden moment in time is one which I will treasure in my heart. At one time all I held dear was close at hand. My husband was close by my side. My children were at my knees. My parents were close at hand. All of my brothers and sisters were around to share in my various joys and sorrows.

Now my father, mother, husband, my brother-in-law, my two sisters,and my brother lay beneath earth’s sod, frozen in my golden moment of time. My hair has turned the color of snow. It’s my grand-children who give me their welcome hugs. My daughter-in-law helps to cook the meal. My sons ask me how I’m doing and if I need anything. My remaining brother, sisters and I start to realize that our time together will not be always.

The golden moment of time when all that we hold dear and the spanning of generations is brief. I see the new golden moments forming for grand-children, nieces and nephews. I’ll treasure those times for until we gather round the Heavenly Father’s throne our golden moments will fade for us and surely start anew for the next generation.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Domestic Violence - A Present and Ancient Problem

The Bible records the first horrific act of family violence in the story of Cain killing his brother Abel. God saw the anger that Cain was mistakenly harboring towards Abel.  God talked with Cain. God told Cain that he had an opportunity to correct his mistake. Consumed by jealousy Cain refused to change his attitude. . Cain continued to make Abel the target of his wrath. Cain chose rage over reason. He overpowered and killed his unsuspecting and innocent brother. Everything in creation was affected by Cain’s solitary action. Cain’s violence brought death to Abel, the disapproval of God, grief to the parents and a disillusioned life of hardship to himself. Even the earth found itself an unwilling participant as it was forced to receive Abel’s blood. Family violence has never been a confidential matter between the abuser and the abused. It disrupts life on so many levels and causes physical, mental, emotional and social pain to everyone. The injured party is no longer able to contrib

Elisha, a Lesson in Humility

One day I attended a meeting of believers. The facilitator of the meeting made several introductions being careful to give each person's title and a brief remark about how she knew the person. When she came to this one particular person she inadvertently did not mention the woman's title. Upon hearing the introduction this person's friend was offended. This person is a reverend she said loudly. I've also been present when a pompous person has declared their own title to make sure that he received special recognition. In this day of superstar preachers, evangelists, apostles, and song leaders, Elisha deserves to be studied. We can contrast this asking and thinking one deserves special privileges with Elisha. The custom of Elisha's day was for travelers to stay in private homes. The hotel industry had not started. Therefore when strangers came into town and needed to have a place to sleep the townspeople would invite them into their homes. They would let them bunk on

Songs in the Night

This week marks eight years since the sudden and unexpected passing of my late husband Winston. That was a strange land for me. The land of loss and death. At first I needed to hear others sing because the song in my heart was frozen with grief and I was traumatized. I’d sing God’s song later with help from others. There were tapes I listened to that reminded me of the Lord’s song. It was the voice on the radio or the television that told me God would bring me out of these trials. It was the voice of my mother telling me and reminding me of God’s faithfulness to me in the past. How could I sing the Lord’s song in a strange land? In the next phase on my journey through grief after the sudden death of my husband I tried to sing along with those who were on the journey with me At first I’d only get a few words out before the tears started to flow. I kept trying day after day to sing along. I was reminded of God’s word. I was strengthened by constantly hearing the words of faith and