The End!

A long time ago I sang a song Mother taught me….When you come to the end of a perfect day….(Carrie Jacobs-Bond) As I began this thought, I remembered that, indeed, I have come to the end of a perfect year. The End. The End of 2011, and in just a few days a new year will begin. The questions surface – Will 2012 have changes of any kind. Or will it rock along like 2011?

Surprises are not always pleasant. Publishing Clearing House is not scheduled to drop in. The realities of life will surface as they do, when least expected. No longer is it a challenge or exciting to ‘see in the New Year’ for me.

When I nearly come to the end of a really good book, I read slower, prolonging the great story, dreading the inevitable announcement – The End. A birthday signifies a new year of beginnings with ‘mountains to climb’.

I remember school writing assignments and the last words were proclaimed joyfully by scrawling in little-girl-writing – The End!

As Christmas Day came to the end this year, I began to feel as if the anticipation of all that is Christmas would come to an end, too. How can I continue that expectant hope that comes with the preparation of Christmas?

So with anticipation I see the end of 2011 just around the corner. How do I prepare for a new year? In times past New Year’s Eve meant staying up with Mom and Dad, praying in the New Year. In the still hush of the night, it seemed ethereal, and the passing of time could not be measured – for each word of prayer for the New Year dropped silently in the room like the dew on spring roses.

My daughter Anna chose a verse of scripture as her theme for 2012. Jeremiah 46:27-28 “But you, dear Jacob my servant, you have nothing to fear. Israel, there’s no need to worry.

Look up! I’ll save you from that far country, I’ll get your children out of the land of exile. Things are going to be normal again for Jacob, safe and secure, smooth sailing. Yes, dear Jacob my servant, you have nothing to fear

Depend on it, I’m on your side. I’ll finish off all the godless nations among which I’ve scattered you, But I won’t finish you off. I have more work left to do on you. I’ll punish you, but fairly. No, I’m not finished with you yet.”

She ends her thoughts with a prayer – Thank you God that you are on our side. You have more work left to do on us. You are not finished with us yet. We are yours. Help us to open our wills to your word. Help us to open our hearts to your love. We long to trust you with our whole lives. We long to believe that you will keep us safe and secure. We are trusting in you that you will provide for us everything that we need for this next year. And at the end of the year we will praise you for the journey of change you have brought us through. (http://drivingwithanna.blogspot.com)

Thank you, Anna, for teaching your mother again. I looked in His Word for a scripture for 2012. So many scriptures to choose from! I have my favorites that I turn to again and again. Which words will give me hope and strengthen my faith and trust?

My thoughts go to the end of the year, the end of Christmas, the end of being on earth, and I am not sure which one. For truly, the end of the year brings another brand new year that is crystal clear, a new beginning. The end of a book brings the quest for another book. An amazing song, when it finishes, calls for another melody of truth and hope. An artful painting depicting the glory of God’s creation calls for another in depth look at what God has created.

A few of my favorite verses from scripture are these:


I Corinthians 1:8 – He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Forgiveness)

Matthew 28:20b – And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. (Faithfulness)

Philippians 1:6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Trust and Hope)

If endings mean beginnings, what is there to fear? When the book ends, when a candle grows too short too burn, when an apple is eaten to its core, when the last drop of milk is used – look for more. Look for the proverbial silver lining. When pain is my companion through the night, I look to the Healer. When fear crowds out trust, I put my hand in the Hand of the One who is able.

When this life on earth ends, in Jesus there is a new beginning.

On Christmas Day, driving to church, realizing – This is the Day – This IS Christmas Day! The bright sunlight and the crisp air simply underlined the blessing of celebration of the Lord’s birth. Like many of our family who lived before, the crowd of witnesses, and now await the call of the trumpet heralding the second coming of Jesus, I thought, what if there is no tomorrow for me? What if it is just This Day?

“Where there is no tomorrow, there is forever – when today never ends…”

I see the glow of Heaven / In the sunrise of the morning / In the smile of your face and / In your loving heart….

Because of the Christ Child / Born so long ago / He gave His Life for us / And lives in Heaven / It is so.

We celebrate each day./ For when there is no tomorrow / With Him we’ll live forever more / Where our today will never end.