Friday, August 09, 2013

Statute of Limitations

For six years, sow your fields, 
and for six years prune your vineyards
and gather their crops.
But in the seventh year, 
the land is to have a Sabbath of rest,
a Sabbath to the LORD.*

At the end of every seven years
you must cancel debts...
and let [your servants] go free.**

*Leviticus 25:3 (NIV)
**Deuteronomy 15:1, 12


On these passages, at least in part, the concept of a Statute of Limitations is based in Common Law.

Seven years...

My wonderful husband died seven years ago today.  Last year I marked the day with THIS post.

Seven years...

I have decided It Is Time for me to enact my own Statute of Limitations, to call for a Sabbath...

not from remembering him
not from remembering our marriage
not from being thankful for his life
not from being thankful for his legacy -- my children --

BUT

from the compulsion to publicly mark those special days
upon every anniversary 
or
birthday

INSTEAD

I will carry on the memories in my home
lovingly hung with photographs
I will light a candle 
in the morning
and 
in the evening
at my prayers
I will hug my children
even across cyber-space
and acknowledge and honour
their choices about remembering
even while I take a rest

I believe that God has new things
for Howard and me now.

It is time.

Rest peacefully, my love.

"For I know the plans I have for you",
declares the LORD,
"plans to prosper you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope
and a future."*

Forget the former things;
do not dwell on the past.
See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; 
do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the desert
and streams in the wasteland.**

*Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)
**Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)





3 comments:

elle said...

This can apply to lots of areas in our lives, Margaret. Be blessed and at rest.

Jenny K. Lyon said...

How beautiful Margaret. What a wise woman you are. And may He bless you richly.

Judy Warner said...

Beautiful, Margaret.