Calendar

My mom is keeping record of the number of months Dad has been gone on her calendar.

It’s been 10.  Ten months without seeing Dad.

It’s hard for me to want to recall that every month.

I’ve never gone this long without seeing my dad.  I can’t recall the longest I ever went without seeing him.  He tried to break this dependence early on when I was going off to college.  He told me to stay until Thanksgiving.  That’s only three months and I couldn’t do it.

Only 90 miles away and he’d send sweet Ziggy cards to ease his daughter’s pain.

It was an experience for my greater good.  That’s what discipline is, right?  The training effect of experience in an unfavorable circumstance.

Jesus says, “I’m the One who corrects and disciplines everyone I love.”  That’s what fathers do.

There seems no fun in the midst of all that, but there’s more delight in warmth after being cold. There’s more satisfaction in fullness after the pangs of emptiness.  It’s this joy that comes in the morning after the sufferable mourning.  But, there’s joy in the morning!  That’s all I need to know.

I don’t know how many more months Mom will mark her calendar.   There is no permanent calendar on this side of heaven.  We know there was an appointment on God’s calendar, though.  We’re all immortal until the day, month, and year that He records.

“This world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.”

We can be dependent on that.

Revelation 3:19

Hebrews 13:14

Psalm 30:5