My folks tell me that as a tiny little girl I was quite verbose. I know, I know – its hard for you to imagine that I might have much to say. But, its true – I was a chatterbox. I would talk to strangers at the grocery store – maybe even sing a verse or two of “Jesus Loves Me” for nearby shoppers.
Well, there’s a word that only a handful of people know, from those chatterbox days, that I created. My dad still says it to me, and so does my sister. I remember the strange look on my husband’s face the first time I said it to him, which made me realize, “Oh. right. that’s not a real word.” Now, this word-phrase has been in my vocabulary since early childhood, so it seems fairly normal to me, but to my knowledge, not many people use it. These days I don’t use it often; only once in a while.
afterlater. That’s the word. I’ll give you a “for instance” from my childhood when I said it regularly :
“Daddy, will you be home afterlater?” To which my dad (who understood my language) would say, “Yes, I’ll come home after work.”
Its strange to me how words can take on new meaning as I get older. From simple to complicated. Normal, every-day kinds of language can become down right painful. There are three examples, in the front of my mind that are changing how I feel about the word afterlater.
A good friend is struggling with a deep, deep psychological condition. She is a mother, wife, friend, sister, daughter, who is just a shell of her former self. The person I used to know has gone missing, and all that is left is a half person. I pray for the day when her “life” returns, but I just don’t know anymore… With the tiny bit of hope I have left, I ask the Lord, “When will my friend be back?” and He gently whispers to me, “afterlater.” and my word sounds sour.
Last week I spent time in prayer for another sister in Christ, who was waiting to hear the news: “Is it cancer?” That was the question and we were all waiting, nearly breathless, to hear the answer. Mid suspense, as I could barely breathe out prayers, I was reminded, by my Heavenly Father, “Live today, live for me. Don’t wait ’til afterlater.” and He used my word with a serious, solemn tone.
And yet another. I have a precious uncle who is closer to Heaven than this world. His body has been fighting disease for some time now. He is ready- ready to be with Jesus. I don’t think He is ready to leave His wife and children and grandchildren. But I am confident that He knows… I know my Heavenly Father has promised – We will see him sooner than afterlater. and my word sounds bitter-sweet.
But.
There is good news! It changes the meaning of my word again. This word, afterlater… It belongs to the Creator, the Almighty God of this world. And He has made the grandest promise of all – to restore and redeem this earth and everything that He has made. All that was wrong- He will make right. Where there was death, He will bring life. He will make all things new.
From Isaiah 65:
17 “See, I will create
new heavens and a new earth.
The former things will not be remembered,
nor will they come to mind.
18 But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I will create,
for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight
and its people a joy.
19 I will rejoice over Jerusalem
and take delight in my people;
the sound of weeping and of crying
will be heard in it no more.20 “Never again will there be in it
an infant who lives but a few days,
or an old man who does not live out his years;
the one who dies at a hundred
will be thought a mere child;
the one who fails to reach a hundred
will be considered accursed.
21 They will build houses and dwell in them;
they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
22 No longer will they build houses and others live in them,
or plant and others eat.
For as the days of a tree,
so will be the days of my people;
my chosen ones will long enjoy
the work of their hands.
23 They will not labor in vain,
nor will they bear children doomed to misfortune;
for they will be a people blessed by the LORD,
they and their descendants with them.
24 Before they call I will answer;
while they are still speaking I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb will feed together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,”
says the LORD.
My mind drifts to my friend who needs a miracle to be herself again. or to all of my mistakes and failures on this life’s journey. Then I think of my loved ones who I long to see again… and I ask Him, “When? When will it happen, Lord? I’m longing for Your touch, for Your presence as King in that new heaven and new earth, so that everything can be made right again.” And He says, in a way that makes my word once again sweet: “afterlater. I promise.”
daily portion 