Years 1-3: Dealt with challenges of my past abuse
Years 3-4: I worked in Houston, while Ron remained in Tulsa. We were apparently together often enough because we welcomed our first child!Years 5-8: Worked opposite shifts of one another. I worked during the day, Ron went to school at night. We had many quick hellos and goodbyes.Years 8-11: Years of loss... birth and death of our 2nd child, Halee's mom and uncle died, loss of Halee's health, and a big job transition as a result of it all.Years 12-15: Such sweet years. Welcomed our youngest son through adoption, and Halee's dad moved close by from out of state, until diagnosed with stage 4 cancer - dying a few months later.Years 16-18: Transitioned into business/ministry individually and together. Ron went into group private practice, and Halee got Life Coaching certification - together it birthed "Run the Race Together."
Ecclesiastes 3:
For everything, there is a season,
a time for every activity under heaven.
2 A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
3 A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
4 A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
5 A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
6 A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
7 A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
8 A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.
... 11 Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.
Each individual season, at times, seemed like it would last forever, but it didn't. Our son's wanting to lay in bed and giggle with us - it still exists for one of our boys but not the other. The days of overwhelming grief - not forever. Scrimping for pennies after a reduction in income - temporary. Holding a parent's hand through sickness and death - came and went. If I look around at all of God's creation, this consistent theme remains - in all things there are seasons.
Understanding this concept of seasons both gives me hope in my darkest days and challenges me to embrace rather than take for granted the days that are oh so sweet. But, above all, as I sit here feeling very satisfied with the marriage I have today, I realize it is God who can take the whole of it all - the good and the bad, and make it all beautiful.
Even these days of bliss are a season - our circumstances will shift at some point, but God will not. This I commit to keeping at the forefront of my mind - I cannot yet see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.
Very well written, Halee! As long as we keep God first in our lives He will see us through each and every season whether it is extremely sweet or sour. God bless you. Ron and your sons
Thank you, Faye! I believe He will see us through and prepare us in advance for any seasons ahead. So grateful for you!