A Time For Everything

Anniversary’s, Birthday’s, Holiday’s, Death’s, they’re all moments in time that seem to cause us to stop and reflect on our life. We may stop and reflect other times but I’m grateful for these types of moments because I always stop and look at my life and just…reflect. It’s usually a reflection of the past year’s events, sometimes a few years past and sometimes my life as a whole. It’s impossible to look at my life and not see God there. Reflecting only makes me that much more in awe of Him and that much more grateful He’s in control of it all.

My one year wedding anniversary is this Sunday, the 27^th of September and I find myself looking back over the past year and looking at all the things that have happened. It’s amazing. Other people keep saying, “Wow! I can’t believe it’s been a year already!” Time sure does go by quickly. A lot can happen in a year. This time last year I married my best friend, not to sound so cliche but it was the happiest day of my life.

I suppose its more “normal” for people to do this kind of reflecting at the end of an actual year, such as in December, or the beginning of a new year, like January, but not me. My life really started the day I married Trevor, so there starts my year!  With that said….

I try to let the people in my life that I love and care about know how I feel frequently. I really try to not let time go by without me expressing my love or gratitude for them. I try to make it a habit to tell them or show them on a consistent basis and not just when a holiday, birthday, or anniversary rolls around.

This past year has had a lot of ups in downs in several relationships. People have come into my life and people have left. Some relationships have gotten stronger and closer while some have drifted apart. I’ve had a ton of new experiences that were great and some that weren’t so great but have made me stronger. There have been lots of laughter and lots of tears; moments of strength and moments of weakness; times of abundance and times of barely enough. There have been times of celebration and times of deep sorrow. So much has happened, so much of life unfolded. As I think of all of these things, this past year can be summed up like this: A Time for Everything ~ 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 cast 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 cast 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. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

So I take this opportunity to express my deep love and appreciation for the amazing man of God my Father has given me to spend the rest of my life with. His love for me is a prime example of Christ’s love for the church. I have learned so much from him and I love my life as his wife, I wouldn’t change a thing.

My Maples familia, you’ll never know how much I love and appreciate you for being my friends but more importantly my family.

My lovely ladies the Lord has blessed my life with (in alphabetical order); AG, BS, BW, CG, DP, HM, JC, JM, KB, KG, RH, I love you all dearly and only wish there could be more time to spend with each one of you. Each of you are special to me and I cherish our friendship. A lot has happened in your lives over this past year too and I consider it a blessing to share all of it together.

My family (husband’s side) you have been amazingly loving and supportive. That means more to me than you’ll ever know.

If you’re someone who waits until a “special occasion” to let the people you love and care about know how you feel then I challenge you today to make it a habit of letting them know more frequently. Let them know how you feel ‘Just Because.’ I understand some of you may not be the affectionate, tell how you feel type of person but there are many ways to show and express your love and gratitude for those special people, be creative, make it fun! It’s the thought that counts just to let them know they’re loved and you’re thinking about them. If could be as simple as sending them an e-card ( a ton are free online), leaving a little post-it note where you know they’ll find it, meeting for a cup of coffee, giving them a treat (ie. favorite candy bar), an email or text message, asking them if there are any needs or concerns you can lift up in prayer, doing the laundry, straightening up around the house, drawing them a picture, crocheting a blanket, you get the idea!

What are some ways that you show your love and appreciation for those special people in your life? and do you make it a habit of doing it often? I’d love to hear your ideas and stories! Be sure to leave a comment below!

Living Life for Christ, one day at a time ~ KD