Ode To Aliza
Its December 2018 and Aliza is three. Every year I’m so amazed at how old she is, and how long it took her to get there. So much has changed. Her birthday is a gentle reminder every year of not just how obnoxiously long a year can be, but what all can happen in between. She reminds me of the growth it involves, the endless opportunities it holds, the tough times that don’t last and most of all, the importance to embrace time while you can… because she won’t be this size forever.
In 2018 I witnessed my siblings get married and become fathers, I was blessed to publish my first book, became an entrepreneur, My family member passed away, I got a new job and I was reconciled with my two youngest siblings after eight long years.
Says a lot about a year; and that’s just what I can think of.
As I reflect it was so many moments filled with different experiences and emotions. I was stressed out. I was nervous of what was next in life. I was healing. I was joyful of the people around me. I celebrated great things and at times I felt like I was going to give up if something didn’t shake because I was tired of the usual. Nevertheless, I persevered by the grace of God. And I’m thankful. Another year, another memorial stone.
Memorial Stones
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:20-24)
Memorial stones are monuments built to honor people or things. They are here so that we will never forget what was done. In the midst of life, we can see a pattern dating back to the children of Israel that we are people who have a tendency to naturally forget. For Moses and the Israelites leaving Egpyt, He created a Passover Feast. For Joshua’s day, He set apart stones. All so that we can remember what the Lord has done. So we can be thankful, and remain thankful every time we look at it. I pray to remain in a mindset of thankfulness. I believe God understands our frame and puts things in our path to help us remember. For some its journaling, jewelry, clothing, annual celebrations, reunions and scrapbooks. However, for me, It’s Aliza.
I don’t know all of what this year will bring. One thing I do know is that if he brings me to it, He will grace me through it. And by the end of it, a great and pleasant reminder of what happened will be here again. And we’ll say this is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes. Sometimes, it takes other celebrations to remind us of the One who really needs to be celebrated.
Aliza taught me more than she could ever know….
Until next time,
Jess