Never changing and Ever changing

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

There were many seasons today at Beautiful Gate. There was a young boy who had been thrown away (v.6) over the weekend but his mother was caught and came to pick him up today. She hid behind the police officer when she first came in and had tears (v.4) flowing freely down her face, was it shame? I really don't know. The boy is young, but I imagine that he must wonder what happened. Why did she abandon him and now she is taking him home. We prayed over them as we know that their relationship is in need of healing (v.3) which only God can bring to both of them.

Today our team went into the mountains to enjoy a beautiful view and when they came back and had eaten dinner, we talked about their trip and sang a lovely verse of How Great Thou Art (thanks Karen). Their were moments of silence as they breathed in God's amazing creation and there was singing and joy too. After dinner we played a game and laughed and laughed as some of the team members, and my son included, did some great charades. While we were busy laughing (v.4) and being joyful together, one of my kids' best friends was mourning (v.4). One of our house mothers had asked us to pray for her mother for the last 2 days and tonight we found out that her mother went to be with Jesus. My kids and I went to her house at 9:30pm to pray for her and hug her. We were all a little somber that we had been laughing so hard we almost cried only moments before when a friend was close by and hurting.

So many things all in one day and yet God was with us all in our moments. He is with the mother and son and He holds their future in His hands. He is meeting with our team and showing them His glorious creation and allowing moments of laughter among the hard emotions that being at an orphanage can bring on. He is holding a precious and beloved woman who has come home and carrying her family as they are left behind, missing her and feeling a void with her absence. He is ever faithful and never changing even though our days and emotions are ever changing.