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

In a previous post (link below) I mentioned the various seasons my husband and I have shared and survived in our 40 years of marriage.  In all those different seasons of life, we were never apart from each other for more than two weeks at any one time, and that was when the kids and I visited my mom and family during the summer.  However, we have just shared a new and different season together – being apart for most of the past ten weeks!  

One of our daughters had surgery that required her to have assistance at home for most of that time.  Who knew shoulder surgery meant even your “good arm” was limited to lifting much weight?  Not me, but I am now well aware how tough it is.  I have a new found understanding of friends who have had shoulder surgeries of various types in recent years.  Thankfully, now that my husband is retired we were able to be there in turns to provide help as needed.  

Since it is just over a two hour drive to our daughters home; we took turns with one of us at home (with our sweet dogs) and one with our daughter (and her sweet cats).  When I was off work from school on weekends – and a few school breaks – I stayed with her.  When I needed to be at work during the week, my husband stayed with her.  After a few weeks, we began meeting along the route to have “date time” at different restaurants. We were also blessed with a few days at home together when my sister stayed with our daughter. For me, it was definitely a time of “absence makes the heart grow fonder” as I realized how much I truly missed him when I was home alone with just the four legged children.  All those years when our kids were home, I was so focused on taking care of them that I didn’t take time to truly miss him when we were apart for a week or two.  

But this new season has come to an end for now.  I look forward to a full week of shared coffee and chats in the mornings and dinner together in the evenings.  The sweet notes he left for me when he headed out to our daughters home can now be replaced by sweet hugs when I arrive home from work.  The text messages can now be replaced with conversations interrupted by jealous doggies.  I am thankful that at this season of our lives, God provided a way for us to be there for our daughter.  HIS timing is always best!  And HE is there to guide us through each and every season of life – we just have to remember to rely on HIM.  

Read more about our various seasons in life here: CELEBRATE