JOURNAL 68
18 January, 2016
My darling,
“Well, today is your birthday!” OR “Well, today would have been your birthday!” I wonder which of those statements is more correct?
On this day 73 years ago Mr & Mrs Hall welcomed the first of two daughters into their family – a gorgeous girl (so I have been told!) whom they named Beverley.
Four months prior Mr & Mrs. Robinson welcomed the first of two sons into their family – a handsome child (so I have been told!) whom they named Michael. Somehow in the years ahead of these newly born children, their lives would intersect, they wold fall in love and marry.
Today, we went up to your memorial at “Tumblegum” and just reflected on our memories of birthdays gone by. I told the group about some of your birthday activities and celebration – like your surprise party at Kenthurst for your 70th birthday.
As we talked about such things, I became aware of a growing sense of honour, privilege and gratitude. If, as the Bible says, that our times are in His hands, I take that to mean that not only the timing of our death/departure out of this world but also of our birth/arrival into the world.
For me, if God is so involved in our coming into and going out of this world, then it follows that He orders our circumstances and creates those intersections of our lives.
Strangely, I got to wondering what kind of gift I would have bought for you if you were still in our realm. It will come as no surprize to you that I am no more creative in my thinking now than I have been over the years you have known me! Obviously, it is a moot question now for the girl who has everything!!
As I walked back to the car past your memorial, I simply said in little more than a whisper, “Happy Birthday, my Darling” – possibly meaning that more than at any other time in our life together since we were married and because this was another one of those “…….the first………..without Bev”
But Until Then
You remain the love of my life
Mike