"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate
a time for war and a time for peace" - Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
I have a knack for crying in public. Whether I am happy or sad, when my heart feels something, it immediately sends the message to my tear ducts and they have a party. I usually can't stop once I'm started so I've learned to embrace it and just let it happen. These past two days, I cannot seem to keep it on lock down and the water works have been flowing.
I had the privilege of spending the past two days with my Great Aunt Marylou and my Great Uncle Mike. It's weird to call them my "Aunt and Uncle" seeing as they have felt more like another set of grandparents my whole life. I haven't seen them in years and they happened to be passing through San Antonio this weekend. We took this opportunity to laugh endlessly, eat extremely good food and share incredible conversation. We were enjoying dinner at a little restaurant on the River Walk last night and laughing up a storm. Marylou and I shared stories with each other and got all caught up on what we both have been up to. Mid-conversation she told me Uncle Mike has cancer that has spread to his bones and has 6 months to a year to live. I felt like time stopped at that moment. Surely this isn't true and surely something could be done. Rather than wallowing in sadness or refraining from living, they are greeting each new day with joy and grace. They are praising God and glorifying His works in all they do. They are adventuring and road tripping to visit friends and family. They are impacting everyone they cross paths with. They are sharing their stories of faith and redemption. They are loving hard and boldly. They are not looking for pity, but rather looking to live as an example... An example of life to the full. They cling tight to the promise of eternity with one another.
To see their faith and insanely positive attitudes made me cry even harder. To hear of their love and all of their adventures impacted my heart big time. Their marriage of over 52 years is laced with pain and beauty... All of which they will genuinely tell you about. They have traveled the country, all 50 states, and gone on adventures abroad that were filled with life. They don't turn down adventure or opportunity. They make sure every day is a good day, no matter the circumstance. Their love is genuine and true. I became captivated with every story they told and my stomach hurt from laughing at Uncle Mike and his extremely funny stories.
Mike and Marylou acknowledge that there is a time for everything. They acknowledge that time may be growing thin. They acknowledge that they have made some mistakes. They acknowledge their love. They acknowledge the endless grace the Lord has extended to each of us. They have impacted my heart more than they will ever know. They have laughed, danced, built up, tore down, mended, loved, gathered, scattered and embraced. They have lived. They have encouraged me to live. They have encouraged me to follow my dreams and truly make the sky the limit.
As we were sharing brunch together this morning, Uncle Mike turned to Blake and me and told us, "Never settle for second best. You guys deserve the best out there, don't forget that". I will hold that so true in my heart. I will take him everywhere with me. I will strive to live the life of love and honesty that he has shown me. I will aspire to love like he loves and spread joy like he spreads. I pray that God's will is done in Uncle Mike's life. I selfishly wish he would live forever and pray for the opportunity to see him one more time.
The inevitable goodbye came much quicker than my heart had wanted. As he hugged all of us, he smiled and said, "This may be the last time I see you, I love you guys so much. Your family has always been perfect to me". My vision became blurry and my tears shamelessly fell down my face.
As much as it hurts to be back in the States when my heart longs to be in Africa, God's timing is revealing itself. It is soft and beautiful. It gave me the opportunity to see Uncle Mike. To hug him one more time. To laugh once more with him. To listen to his stories. To remember him in all his glory. To follow the Lord's call on my life. To continually build Rays of Grace and wait upon the Lord and His timing for me to journey back to Africa. To see first hand that there is "a time to plant and a time to uproot". I will cling to that.
So Uncle Mike, thank you :) thank you for being yourself and being real. I pray that I get to hug you one last time, but if I don't, I can't wait to party with you in heaven :)
Until we meet again :) I love you so much :)
britt :)
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