A Time To Keep

I remember when she told me about her fiancé. She showed me the gifts he bought. She told me how loving, kind and generous he was. She told me the places he took her to. She told me the pet names he called her. You can’t imagine what it was like seeing them together in public.

I envied the passion and fulfillment in her voice when she spoke about him. He was the man of every woman’s dreams. His acts, as she had listed to me, became the yardstick for judging mine. Mine was nothing close to this man she described. Glaring was the fact that mine did not call me pet names. He had to go.

When shortly afterwards she got married to someone else, I was curious. How could she leave someone who was so perfect? I inquired. It was then the truth came out. He was not so perfect. He had his shortcomings. After hearing in details about the other side of him, I realized that though mine was not perfect, he was a blessing from God. Simply saying kind words to him changed him to an affectionate, lyrically-tongued man.

Many a times, we build our expectations based on what we get from our senses. If only we could see what we have through the eyes of God, we might just realize that we are possessors of God’s great and precious promises. Maybe we’ll become conscious that we have what others want.

Your desire may be “Do something new in my life” while your heart whispers “It is A Time to Keep”.

There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven:
...A time to keep and a time to throw away…
Ecclesiastics 3:1; 6b.

Indeed it is a time to keep: relationships with friends or siblings that could be mended; love grown cold due to neglect and hurt yet could be healed, jobs that seem demanding or not up to par yet are God’s gifts; memories of God’s goodness drowned in new expectations; and do I mention admission pending the visa to that school that is a form of escape? The list of things to keep is endless.

The grass on the other side may not always be as green as you hope. After leaving all you had for it, you might turn back to meet a shut door that will not be opened again.

But if you think it is a time to throw away, please speak to a person who longs for what you have.

You may desire something new in your life, but all it might take may be for you to do something new [different] in yourself. Then you will see that what you already have is worth keeping.

Speaking of keeping, your belief and trust in God is one thing to keep at all times. Keep your hope and faith alive and set your mind on Him, for He is faithful that promised [1]. Keep your relationship with Him alive because His love has been the only love that never hurts you or leaves a door shut in front of you. Because of the joy awaiting Jesus Christ, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame [2]. That joy was simply the joy of your acceptance and faith in him, the joy that grace, reconciliation and salvation will come to you.

Happy Easter! Enjoy God’s Sweet, Sacrificial, Unconditional and Unfailing Love.

Please note: This post does not suggest that if you are facing a situation that is detrimental to your physical, spiritual or emotional well being, that you should stay in it. It just might be for you “A Time to Throw Away”.

Bible References
[1] Hebrews 10:23b
[2] Hebrews 12: 2b paraphrased.