Journey with Della

Time and time again, life takes us to a place where we’re compelled to contemplate its meaning, essence, paradoxes, joys and pains.

Faced with this reality, King Solomon in his wisdom put his thoughts this way

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3:1-2, 4‬ ‭

As we awake to greet dawn after dawn, days after laying our father to rest, I can’t help but wonder: what time is it?

The time since august 13 has been a time of, well all of the above and more for the Fanfon family. Indescribable pain has seared through the muscles, joints and ligaments of the family in much the same way that the warmth of divine comfort has enveloped us. Tears have rolled in tandem with smiles and laughter. Anger, frustration and bitterness have resided at the same address with deep gratitude and sincere privilege.

Tempers have flared and voices have been raised at the same people in whose arms strength for the difficult moments has been garnered. The deep wounds in our hearts have oozed blood and anguish at the very same time that they have funneled an oasis of healing to us and others. The same words that are pregnant with much needed consolation hold bits and pieces of the harsh realities that engender annoyance and occasional agitation.

All the moments of the life we have known since have been pregnant with more than all the vocabularies in all the languages in all the world can capture. And yet amidst the crashing waves of grief and loss that have rocked the boats of our individual and collective lives we must rise to make clear and firm choices. These choices must necessarily be informed more by the convictions of the life that our very dearly loved and cherished father lived than by any sentiments or fleeting emotional roller coasters.

So while we often must pause, acknowledge our deep loss and mourn accordingly, we also must choose to see beyond each tear that rolls to the life beyond this one where, of a truth, we shall be united with him in the sweet by and by.

You ask me what time is it? I’ll say it is time to celebrate a life well lived and reflect on the paradoxes amidst which we are all called to stand tall and not lose focus

It is time to honor a hero and father to many; to remember the deep lessons immersed in all that he did with great intentionality

It is time to defy natural instincts in favor of divine instruction regarding they who sleep in the Lord resting from their labors and being followed by their deeds

So today and always, let us have a little heaven on earth because for daddy there is great rejoicing in heaven as the saint that he is finds eternal rest at His Savior’s bosom.

And for us, the words of his favorite scripture couldn’t be truer – and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).