The Fulness of Time

Sometimes I like to describe myself as a lifetime learner.  It sounds so much better than saying that I haven't quite mastered this lesson yet.  One of the lessons that I seem to be taking a lifetime to learn is that God's timing and mine aren't always the same.  Over the course of my 71 years, most of the arguments I have had with God have been about timing.  (And just in case you are wondering, I have lost them all.)

A year ago Valerie and I returned from a trip to be presented with a gift from my daughter and son-in-law.  It was a book with the title The Gifts of being Grand, and was their creative way of telling me that there was a baby on the way.  It was good news!  A few days later excitement turned to sadness with a miscarriage.  The time was not full, even though I thought it should be.

Fast forward a year.  Last week Suzanne gave birth to a heathy bundle of joy named Mateo.  He arrived right on time.  Well, actually he arrived a week after the due date, but it still turned out to be the fulness of time.  Example:  Suzanne's friend Tricia (who happens to be a labor and delivery nurse) had planned to visit for a few days.  As it turned out, her planned arrival date coincided with Mateo's, and she went from the airport directly to the birth center.  Only God could have pulled off that kind of timing.


So for the last week, this very thankful dad has started to learn about the gifts of being grand.  They are good gifts. And in the fulness of time it's something I plan to take a lifetime to learn.