beginning to end and back again

Well friends, our summer is just about over.  I know, I know – I’ve probably already belabored the point. On Monday we went to the pool for the last time.  We were the only family there – just us and the lifeguards.  As we dried off, I glanced at Em who was a tad bit teary.  My sweet girl has it rough being so much like her Mama.  She has loved this time and keeps making me promise over and over that we will get a pool pass again next year.

I find myself sandwiched between happiness and sadness.  New books for our school year should arrive at any moment. And yet, I am reluctant to say goodbye to summer and all of its relaxation and pool time and fewer commitments.   What else can we squeeze in to make this the best summer holidays ever, before Labor Day Weekend comes to a close?  Surely there’s one more thing…

I know in my heart this is just a part of the cycles and seasons that make up life – but, sometimes they rush by before I can fully wake up to them…

But here we are at the precipice of school life and text books,  brightly colored autumn leaves and crockpot applesauce, once again.  With a glance over the shoulder at the towels and the sunscreen, we toss a wave goodbye and step out into the excitement and newness of 5th grade and 1st grade, a new job for me, new friends to be made and everything else we don’t even know about yet.  The season holds great promise.

In life there cannot be beginnings without endings, nor endings without fresh beginnings.  This fact in and of itself is the best and worst of life –  the highs and lows of “hold on tight” and “let go”, goodbyes and hellos, joys and sadness – they all mix together like a sweet and sour, fizzy elixir.  It makes my lips pucker. I squint my eyes hard and swallow it down because it tastes so good, and burns all at the same time.

The beauty of it all is that the summer of 2012 has been wonderful. a true delight.  We have enjoyed it thoroughly.  While no summer in the future will be just like it, we take pleasure believing that there is more ; hopeful we’ll come again, when summer is new and our Heavenly Father will take care to plan something glorious.

So, for now, this means so long summer with warm goodbyes, without regret.  We will return another time with hearty and happy hellos.

I keep thinking that this is ultimately the life that He planned for us, isn’t it? A circle of startings and finishings that bring us into accordance with His will – that His timing  and orchestrating are supreme?  He is ever leading my sweet family, pulling us towards Himself, His grace and the fullness of life in Him, reminding us to live now in the moment He has provided, trusting and unafraid of the beginnings and endings He gives.

With all of these thoughts swirling around me, I am reminded of one centering, slowing thought:  I am the daughter of the author and finisher of faith.  My history is written by the Alpha and Omega who controls the beginning and ending of all time…   Thank you Heavenly Father for these words:

from Revelation 1:

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”