September Celebration
It’s late afternoon in mid September. The afternoon sun slants obliquely like lattice work over the driveway. A slight breeze riffles through the half dozen small aspens which have volunteered alongside. Their leaves flutter and twirl, a dance of light and air within the stiff pine trees. It’s still quite warm during the day, but mornings are down right chilly until my bones warm up. It’s definitely now fall weather for I’ve traded out shorts for jeans and flannel shirts.
This week I remember several family birthdays: my brother Joe on the 22nd; grandson Christopher on the 23rd; and beautiful granddaughter Bridget on the 26th. We don’t have a very large family, but birthdays seem to cluster during the months of February, May and September. February is especially crowded because both of my parents, my husband Dan, younger brother Peter and several aunts, uncles and/or cousins were born then. It was a month to celebrate our little German tribe.
Last night at Sunday’s evening service in New Meadows, we were asked to reflect upon what the future will bring. There are so many “what ifs” in the question, about families, church, country and culture – the uncertainty of ground shifting under our feet. What will happen with the election? Will the pandemic end soon? Will the economy rise or fall next year? The future we’ve always hoped and planned for doesn’t seem very promising. As grandparents we’re rightly concerned for our grandchildren’s lives. We want the next generations to have the same blessings that we’ve received but realistically, who is not concerned about all the “new normals” children (and their beleaguered parents) must live with.
Questions about the future can rattle us into a dither if we forget that the believer’s future is already secure. Jesus has given us an eternal future which no earthly force can take away. Through faith in Jesus our Redeemer and in the power of the Holy Spirit who has sealed our redemption, after death we will share in the eternal, divine life of God our Father . My brother Joe’s life was cut short by cancer. His earthly future was simply not long enough for those of us who loved him and miss him. But this week on his birthday I am celebrating the wonderful life he’s having with the Lord. I know there’s a celestial birthday bash going on in heaven and that my brother sits at one of the grand pianos he designed, plunking away endless new songs and praising God.
Joe became a Christian a few years before I did. He never proselytized his new faith, but his joy, happiness, courage and kindness were infectious. While I was still afar off, he lovingly gentled me with Jesus. That love drew me to the Lord more than any sermon in church. I am thankful for his life and quiet witness even during the last dark months of cancer.
Our children and grandchildren are not yet believers. But I’ve faith that some day they will celebrate new birthdays, their rebirth days in Christ. I pray for all my grandchildren’s future, but especially for this week’s birthdays kids. My prayer is very simple: Heavenly Father, draw them to Yourself. Let them know the saving grace of Jesus. May Dan and I – and my brother Joe’s life – be your witnesses.
From The Sheep Pen 