January 19 Martha's Musings

I may have written about this general concept before, but this personal episode was so clear, I feel the need to share it. Every night, for as long as we have lived in Georgetown, I stand on our back porch and look at the moon. And I tell my Dad good night and that I love him. For some reason, the moon always reminds me of Daddy, who died right before my 32nd birthday. Thus, he has now been gone for 41 years. That is a very long time, although on some days, it seems like it just occurred. Earlier this week, when I went out on the back porch, the moon was not visible. It had been cloudy all day, and I guess the moon was hiding behind the cloud cover. It never once entered my mind that on this night, there simply was no moon. I have read the book of Genesis, more than once, and God’s plan for creating a light source for both the day and the night is clearly stated. And just because I could not see it was in no way an indication that it was not there. So, I said my usual “Hi Daddy, I love you. Give Mom and the boys a hug for me” and went back inside. I did not have to see the moon to know that it was there. It is ALWAYS there, and it will always be there, until earth itself passes away. Once again, my faith has held me up, as it has on numerous occasions before. How very blessed I am! I have God’s personal assurance that I will see my family again, face to face, when we stand together in His presence. Until that time, I will continue to tell Daddy “Good night” from our back porch. The moon is what sparks the memory, but my God is the source of the faith. Always.

Blessings,
Martha Arizpe, St. John’s Prayer Team