Lisa-Jo Baker has a blog that I love to read. She has this thing on Fridays – Five Minute Friday. You guessed it; write for five minutes straight. No editing. No re-do.
Today’s Topic: AFTER
GO
He was then. He is now.
We were then. We are now.
He used to. He can’t do now.
We were gonna, but we can’t now.
Before the accident. After the accident.
Well, before he was hurt and since the accident.
B.A. (Before Accident) and P.A. (Post Accident.)
It’s how I measure everything now. An inevitable trap of comparison.
It’s difficult not to reflect back on that long, 80FT skid mark and see where our lives turn a turn for the After.
But, we long for a better, next After.
After he walks.
After he can do this and do that.
When we can do this and do that.
We long for the After, the better and next After.
I think tragedy does that.
Drawing a thick black, skid mark of division between the Then and the Now. The Before and the After.
But, we’re ready for the next, better After.
The one where we can encourage others to place their hope in the God of the universe who has the better, next After for them in the palm of His hands, the One who blends the chords of our lives into a beautiful symphony.
The After that we see the Good come to fruition in the score of our life song.
And, ultimately, our hope lies in the next, best After. The After that we get to spend eternity with the One who loves us, the One who directed our steps and carried us through all the Befores and all the Afters.
STOP
Hi Allison, I am your neighbor in 5-Minute Friday.
What a powerful blog. There is sadness and hope. This is so beautifully stated. Thanks so much for sharing.
May the Lord bless you and your family.
“AFTER” all is said and done – we are still overcomers! He follows “after” us. . . you are loved!!
Hi Allison,
I think your post is wonderful. I love this: “The After that we get to spend eternity with the One who loves us, the One who directed our steps and carried us through all the Befores and all the Afters.”
Where would we be without His strong hands to carry us?
Blessings to you and your family.
May this be an Ephesians 3:20 year for you.
Love,
Selena @ glencampbellclan.blogspot.com
And while you’re waiting patiently for that “after” He is using your “now” to touch hearts and inspire hope! I think maybe our pains and struggles hold a stronger grace testimony than our joys do. Not that the joys don’t have their own story. But so many people can really relate to the pain and be awestruck by the reality that God is carrying us through!
So delighted to meet you, walk alongside you in the in between, and then give you a big hug in the Heavenly after!