Tag Archives: losing

A Time to Get and a Time to Lose

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A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; (Ecclesiastes 3:6)

That word “get” is a real catch-all; we get gifts, we get sick, we get well, we get well known, we get forgotten. There seems to be no end to what we can get…and the Bible tells us to “get wisdom” (Proverbs: 4:7) And then Solomon talks about a time to lose. In his case, because he didn’t use his wisdom wisely, reverting back to the “ways of the world”, Solomon lost God’s respect. A time to get and a time to lose.

To keep and to cast away reminds me of clothing, unworn for years, hanging in a closet, until the time comes get rid of it…”cast it away”. It happened to me just a few days ago. My youngest daughter had given me a dress that I had admired on her. That was 1997! After wearing it many times over the next few years, it somehow found its way to the back of my closet. Now, in still good shape, that dress has been passed on to a charity organization. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.

Tomorrow: A Time to Rend

It’s Called Alzheimer’s

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Being in a pastoral care environment, dementia is one of the major issues we see. It has also touched my life personally, and inspired the following poem.

IT’S CALLED ALZHEIMER’S

My love, where did you go?

How many times were you warned

that you would make yourself sick with worry?

And you did.

Not that worry robbed you of memory,

but it left little room for enjoying your life

before it was claimed by dementia.

I look at the shell that is left of you and my heart hurts.

Your eyes are still sky blue,

but the twinkle is gone…replaced by a vacant stare.

When a hint of recognition breaks through,

my heart soars, only to plummet

as the flash of memory disappears once again

into the distance of the disease.

It’s called Alzheimer’s.

It has robbed you of your life, and me of my life partner.

©2006

To all whose partners have succumbed to this disease, and to those who are caring for loved ones while watching them disappear little by little, my heart and prayers go out to you.

Soul vs Ego

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This morning my soul and ego came to loggerheads about a subject I was ready to post.

My soul won and I trashed the post.

Sometimes happiness is simply booting ego to the curb once in awhile.

Have a nice day!   🙂