For Everything There is a Season
By: Bumblebee Bucy

Disclaimer: The Bible verses I used are in italics and I wouldn't presume to claim to have written them. They are all from Ecclesiastes 3 and the verse numbers will be in parentheses after the verse. I used a King James version of the Bible for all the quotes. Author's Note: This is one of my favorite passages in the Bible and I wanted to make some commentary on it. Happy Memorial Day to all fellow Americans!

Today is Memorial Day, a time not only to remember the veterans, but also to remember our loved ones who have gone on before us. I suppose that it's the holiday that has gotten me thinking about this passage again.

My grandmother died four years ago and my grandfather died only a year after. Since their deaths I have always been comforted by the verse that says, "A time to be born, a time to die," (v. 2a). This is probably the most famous verse in the whole section, but we must remember that there are seven-and-a-half other verses. I'm going to go through them, starting at the beginning, with a sentence or two telling what they mean to me.

"To every thing there is a season and a time to every purpose under the heaven." (v. 1) God has a plan for us and no matter what happens it will happen in due season, or just the right time, in his plan.

"A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted." (v. 2). Every person in this world will die sometime, some young, others old. We don't understand why this must be so, but we know that it is in God's plan and is therefore for the best. Also, there is a time for us to plant, whether it is a seed of happiness in someone or tomato seeds. Eventually it will come back to us - maybe a month later, maybe more, or maybe less.

"A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up." (v. 3) The only thing I can say here is that I suppose there is a time to kill or break down. After all, an aspen tree's seed husks are only opened by fire and only after they are opened can they grow.

"A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance." (v. 4) Yes, there are times to be sad and cry, like today for instance, but we must remember that there are also times when we are to laugh and dance.

"A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace and a time to refrain form embracing." (v. 5) There are times when we need to give others that hug or whatever they need to help them, but of course, there are also times when we must leave things alone.

"A time to get, and a time to loose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away." (v. 6) Sometimes, we will get exactly what we want, but there are also times when we won't. As for the other half of the verse, here is a quote I read that I thought would fit, "We can't have everything; where would we put it?"

"A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak." (v. 7) In Hebrew tradition, the clothes were ripped or the people wore sackcloth when they were mourning and they would not fix their clothes until the sorrows were over. The other part of the verse is referring to tact - shutting you mouth before someone wants to shut it for you.

"A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace." Yes people, it does say that there is a time for war, but also a time for peace. Love and hate, war and peace, there must be a balance.

I'd like to conclude with this prayer: "Lord, grant me the strength to change what I can, the serenity to accept what I can not, and the wisdom to know the difference."

I hope that if you read this you got something out of it. If you did read it please leave a review, even if it's only two words.