Great Plains Daily Devotional for 12/31/2019

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

What gain have the workers from their toil? I have seen the business that God has given to everyone to be busy with. He has made everything suitable for its time; moreover he has put a sense of past and future into their minds, yet they cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil.

I for one will be glad to see the passing of 2019.  It’s been a rough year. I’ve spent the latter half of the year it seems either in treatment for cancer or in recovery from the treatment.  Time has slowed to a crawl and I’ve slogged through the days and weeks sometimes wondering if I was going to have the energy to make it through the day.  2020 promises new phases of treatment but I’m hopeful that this too shall pass.

When I look back, I feel so very blessed by the ways God has taken my sickness and made so much good.  I have been abundantly blessed by people in my church, at work, and in my life.  They have reached out from far and near to support, pray and take care of me and my family.  I’ve had to learn to rely on my faith, family and friends instead of my own strength.  I’ve joined a sisterhood of amazing women who have ushered and mentored me into their ranks with so much grace. 

I can’t forget about my all-star medical team.  Each medical professional I have encountered has been amazing from my oncologist to my super star chemo nurse who has been with me through almost all my treatments.  These professionals are truly doing God’s work taking care of so many of us going through what can be a very scary time in life.

I’ve learned that nothing is certain, nothing is promised.  Each day is a gift and I now think about how I plan to use my time after cancer.  I know I’ll spend some time speaking out about early detection and how key it is to beating this disease. I hope I can be as great a mentor to someone else as my mentors have been to me. 

When I received my diagnosis, I had a conversation with God.  I knew he would be with me every step of the way because I couldn’t do this without Him.  He has kept his promise.  I know He will walk with me into 2020 and be by my side no matter what comes next.

Prayer for Reflection

Ecclesiastes 3:1-13
Psalm 8
Revelation 21:1-6
Matthew 25:31-46