“How did it get so late so soon?” ― Dr. Seuss

Welcome back. Today is Monday, March 24, 2025, and, I bid each one a hearty hello from my workstation here to wherever you happen to be. I completed last week by attending a memorial service for a dear brother in Christ. He was a wonderful God honoring man and his home going service was filled with the joy of knowing he has transitioned as "absent from the body, present with the Lord". (2 Corinthians 5:8) Attending these types of services is one of the recurring things us older folks do. Without becoming morbid I can't help but think we find ourselves window shopping for the type of service we would want done for ourselves. It certainly reminds me each time of my own mortality and like it or not, how that each day brings me closer to this event that will culminate my own sojourn here on the planet. The wife and I used to sing together some. One of the songs we sang has to do with how time has made a change. That song didn't mean as much 40 years ago as it does today. Duh! Here are the lyrics of that song:

 

 TIME HAS MADE A CHANGE IN ME
                  (by Harkins Frye)

Time has made a change since my childhood days;
Many of my friends have gone away.
Some I never more in this life will see.
Time has made a change in me.

    Time has made a change
      in the old home place;
    Time has made a change
      in each smiling face.
    And I know my friends
      can plainly see
    Time has made a change in me.

In my childhood days, I was well and strong;
I could climb the hillside all day long.
I am not today what I used to be.
Time has made a change in me.

    Time has made a change
      in the old home place;
    Time has made a change
      in each smiling face.
    And I know my friends
      can plainly see
    Time has made a change in me.
 

When I reach my home in that land somewhere,
With my friends who wait to meet me over there,    
Free from pain and care I'll forever be.        
Time has made a change in me.

 

     Time has made a change
      in the old home place;
    Time has made a change
      in each smiling face.
    And I know my friends
      can plainly see
    Time has made a change in me.

 

Speaking of the wife, she came home yesterday after having been gone ten days over in Louisiana. She and her sister were there primarily to help see after their brother who is headed towards is 90th birthday this upcoming August. He needs caregiver support and they go to give his son a break from time to time. Dorothy will be 80 this upcoming August and the wife, Marilyn, will be 78 this April, but, they are still often referred to as the 'girls'. The photo was taken over there yesterday morning as they were leaving to attend services at Good Hope Baptist Church where Dorothy's son Michael pastors. Those 'girls' in that photo reflect a whopping amount of caring, sacrifice, and, serving the Lord and others. I tell people all the time how they are twins born 18 months apart. Their dad, Bro. W. L. Rawles, was an old-time preacher man and he along with their mom who was one of the most God loving women I've known, well, the girls, they were raised right. All of their family, Cleon, Milton, Dorothy, and, Marilyn grew up knowing what it meant to serve. At age 16 I came onto the scene. That was a while back but I am clear on how this family which became my family made a huge difference in my life. Yep. Time has made a change, but, so has others, too numerous to count, in helping me to become who I am today. And, lest anyone should wonder, I can totally grasp the Apostle Paul's meaning when he said in the letter to the Philippians, Chapter 3, Verse 12,  "Not that already I have obtained it or already have been perfected, but I am pursuing, if also I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus." (from the Berean Literal Bible) I do thank God that He is still working on me. How about you? 

 

But, I am glad she is home. I do hope you get out there and have yourself one God-blessed day. Do it in Jesus Name. Amen.