# 296 of 365 for October 23, 2012

Today I am in no mood to take a picture.  My heart is heavy with grief.  A dear lady from our church, a special friend, crossed the line of worlds to meet her reward.  I was thinking about how I felt her loss and how her family feels her loss and it just left me with no desire for taking pictures.  Then I thought about the pretty boquet of flowers on my dining room table, recieved as a gift from our church on Sunday, in honor of clergy appreciation month.  There they sit all unique and different;  different shapes, different textures, different scents, and different colors.  Isn't that the way we are?  Each one unique and different, filling our specific spot in life, much like the flowers fill their spots in the boquet.  Yet the thought that really grips my heart tonight is the degree to which some of the flowers are withered, while others are yet strong. .
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We just celebrated our friends 50th birthday less than 3 months ago.  One would have thought she would have lots of time left.  Yet I am reminded scripture says Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away James 4:14.  I also rehearse the verses from Psalms;  As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more. But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children. Psalm 103 15-17.

As the flowers on my table are withering, Although I have taken great care to make sure they all have plenty water, their withering is beyond my control.  I am reminded of the brevity of life and the certainty of death.  Hebrews 9:27a says as it is appointed unto men once to die.  Rachel flourished as a flower of the field, and blessed our lives, but today she kept her appointment with death, and this place shall know her no more, she will live on in our memories and in eternity.  She left a good testimony behind to comfort her friends and family.

 I am reminded of the preciousness of our health and our family.  It makes me want to pull my friends and family close and hug them, and thank God for them while they still flourish, happy and healthy,  as flowers of the field.  For we know not when each of us shall keep the appointment Rachel kept today. 

So even though it was almost midnight,  I just had to force myself to get out my camera and share my flowers.  If you look close you'll see what I see....  how some are withering..........  fading away....... yet many are strong.  I wonder how we might change our lives, and our actions if we could see clearly the withering of ourselves and our loved ones.....  Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away James 4:14.

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. For the wind passeth over it and is gone and the place thereof shall know it no more.  Psalm 103: 15 -17