Day 25
Scripture: Isaiah 40:6-8
A voice says, “Cry out.”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
“All people are like grass,
and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
because the breath of the Lord blows on them.
Surely the people are grass.
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.”
Story from the Blue Seats:
The house was quieter these days. The laughter of children running through the halls had long faded into memory. The once-busy kitchen, where meals for a family of many were cooked with love, now hosted simpler meals for two. The seasons of life had shifted, and the couple found themselves in the autumn of their years, reflecting on the life they had built together.
He sat in his favorite chair by the window, the sunlight filtering through the curtains, illuminating the stack of photo albums on the side table. She was nearby, tending to her roses in the garden—a hobby she had taken up after retirement. They had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary just last year, and while the years had brought joy and love, they also brought change.
“We used to think life would stay the same,” Patty said as she came in, her hands dirtied from planting. “But here we are. The kids are grown, the grandkids visit less often, and even our bodies remind us every day that we’re not who we used to be.”
Larry nodded. “It’s true. Everything changes. The world moves on, and so do we. Sometimes, it feels like those changes happen so quickly that it’s hard to catch our breath.”
There had been plenty of adjustments. Retirement meant stepping away from decades-long careers that had given Larry a sense of purpose. Health challenges emerged, slowing their once-active pace. Even their neighborhood wasn’t the same; familiar faces had moved, and new buildings replaced familiar landmarks. It was easy to feel unmoored in the midst of it all.
But as they talked, Larry opened one of the photo albums, flipping through the pages of their shared history. Pictures of their wedding, the birth of their children, family vacations, and holiday gatherings brought smiles to their faces. They were reminders of the goodness God had woven through every season of life. But through it all, they had a constant reminder that even though life changes, God never does. So much has shifted around them— family, health, even the world itself. But God’s promises are the same today as when they first said ‘I do.’ He has been faithful through it all.”
“Life is different now,” Patty said, her hand resting gently on Larry’s. “But maybe that’s okay. We have time now—to reflect, to be still, to see God’s faithfulness more clearly. And even in the changes, there’s beauty.”
Larry nodded, his voice steady. “We’re not who we were, and that’s part of God’s plan too. Grass may wither, and flowers may fade, but we’re grounded in something eternal. And that gives me peace.”
He stopped to pray together before I left their home, thanking God for His enduring presence. They had weathered the changes of life, not by their own strength but by resting in the unchanging word of God. Their final years weren’t a time of endings but a time of reflection—a season to marvel at God’s goodness and to trust Him for whatever came next.
