
1: A proclamation of scripture from
the book of Ecclesiastes:
1: There is a time for everything, and
a season for everything we
must do: a time to be born and a time
to die,
2: "Tell us another of the stories about
when you and
grandpa first got married."
1: A time to plant and a time to uproot,
3:"Dad, Michael got a new job and we're
moving...
1: A time to kill and a time to heal,
3:"No, we won't be taking you with us,
you're home is
here now."
1: A time to tear down and a time to
build,
2: "All she does is sit in that chair
and drool."
1: A time to weep and a time to laugh,
2: "Do you remember the time he told
us that he was so
angry with his brother that he cut
the tree down his brother was
hiding in so that he could punch him?"
1: A time to mourn and a time to dance,
3: "Grandma, you really used to like
that kind of
music?!"
1: A time to scatter stones and a time
to gather them,
2: "Not one of my brothers and sister
will watch Mom
for even one day."
1: A time to embrace and a time to refrain
from embracing,
3: "Now remember kids, don't hug Nanna
too tight, it
hurts her arthritis."
1: A time to search and a time to give
up,
3: "We finally had to put Mom in a home.
This is
probably the hardest thing I have ever
had to do."
1: A time to keep and a time to let
go,
2: "I guess I'm not supposed to but,
I really resent
having to spend all this time on my
Dad, I mean when do I get to
take care of me?"
1: A time to tear and a time to mend,
3: "She won't take her medicine like
she's supposed
to."
1: A time to be silent and a time to
speak,
2: "No, Dad, I'm not Jim and you're
not living in
Chicago anymore. How many times do
we have to tell you?"
1: A time to love and a time to hate,
3: "God, I hate funerals."
1: A time to struggle and a time to
reconcile,
2: "Mom, I've already come to see you
twice this week."
1: I know that there is nothing better
for us than to be happy
and do good while we live. That everyone
may find satisfaction in
all our toil--this is the gift of God.
I know that everything God
does will endure forever; nothing can
be added to it and nothing
taken from it. Whatever is has already
been, and what will be has
been before.