Pay Nothing Until 2008...

I posted before about how I write "Thoughts From The Throne" each week for women on campus that are then posted up in the bathroom stalls in the dorms. Clever, I know. Here is a clip of the one I wrote today...

"When I was in college I always enjoyed the start of a new semester because it gave me an opportunity to start fresh. New classes, new professors, and another opportunity to try and be on top of my work. I would always say, “This semester I’m not going to procrastinate and I’m going to do all of the assigned reading…” That usually only lasted for a few weeks, but at least my intentions were good.

Along with the start of a new semester comes the start of a whole new year. I can remember years ago watching furniture commercials on TV that would say “No payments until 2008!” and thinking that was so far away…and now here it is. At the start of this year I found myself reflecting on last year and all of the events and memories that encompassed it.

I found myself reflecting even more yesterday afternoon as I attended a funeral for a friend’s mother who recently died after an eight month battle with cancer. The funeral was completely devoted to glorifying God for the life He gave, for the children she raised and for the people she blessed in her 48 years here on earth. As I sat at the funeral I couldn’t help but think of how quickly life can change. Eight months ago this woman was completely healthy—but life doesn’t always go as we plan and she is now at home with her Heavenly Father.

I woke up this morning feeling somber with my heart heavy. I continued to grieve for her husband who lost his wife and for her children who lost their mother. “It’s just not fair” I would think, and it’s true--it’s not. But we we’re never told life would be fair. In the midst of sadness I cling to the promise that the Lord knows and understands far more then we do or ever will—and we’re not called to understand but to trust.

If you haven’t done so already, take time this week to reflect on last year. If your year was anything like mine, there were times of great joy and heartfelt pain. Both the joy and the pain are valuable to reflect on as they are imperative to our growth as followers of Christ. In the midst of pain it’s often difficult to see how the Lord can create beauty from it—but He can and He does."