Vol. 17 No. 16 | April 20, 2015
You knew the day would come. You did not know when, but you knew it would come.
You knew the day would come when you would hold your newborn in your arms as you wept with gratitude for the blessing and prayed for wisdom to handle the responsibility.
You knew the day would come he looked at you and you knew he recognized you and that the smile was real and not just gas.
You knew the day would come when your little one would let go of your hand and start walking on her own.
You knew the day would come you would drive away from the school after releasing your first child to strangers and wondered what you would do the rest of the day, and then the day you left your last child you really wondered what you would do for the rest of the day…and the day after that.
You knew the day would come when your little girl would dress up like a princess and you would watch her and her friends pile into a limousine with a group of her friends as you prayed for her safe return.
You knew the day would come when you would see your son walk across the stage in his graduation regalia and you would realize his life and yours will never be the same.
You knew the day would come when after all the preparations had been completed the wedding music would begin and you would take your place in the processional and prepare to hear her say, “I do.”
You knew the day would come when you received a call from your son saying, “We’re headed to the hospital!” and you would rush to make new travel plans so you could be there to hold your grandchild and weep for the blessing of sharing the moment with your children and pray for the wisdom for them to be the parents, and you to be the grandparent this baby will need you all to be.
You knew the day would come when they all came for a visit and filled the house with conversation and laughter, then you would drop them off at the airport and go home to the quiet.
You knew the day would come you and your wife would look at each other and know without a word that she knows the joy and pain you have in your heart because it is the same joy and pain she has in hers.
You knew the day would come when you walk into one room for a specific purpose, but by the time you got there you had forgotten why you came.
You knew the day would come when you wake up in the morning and try to get out of bed only to discover that you have more aches and pains in places than you knew you places.
You knew the day would come when you get more updates on the health of friends than you do about their vacation adventures.
You knew the day would come when that chair at the end of the table and that chair in the living room would be forever empty.
You knew the day would come when the doctor would say that he has done all that he can do.
You did not know when, but you knew it would come. You knew the day would come when you would say the final goodbye.
For three years the followers of Jesus watched and listened and learned from their Master and He occasionally reminded them that the day would could when He would leave them. They did not know when. In their hearts the wanted to deny the reality of His words, but deeper in their hearts they knew that day would come. That day came.
Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:28-30, NIV)
Then they remembered that He promised another day would come when He would leave the tomb. That day came: Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20:18, NIV)
Because of that day we know that a day will come when we will be welcomed into the presence of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. We will hear Him say, “Welcome home.”
You knew the day would come. What a day that will be!
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2015. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.