I’ve seen both the emergence of life and the ending of how life was defined, all in the same place.
As a child, I spent many weekends at my aunt and uncle’s farm. I raced my sister to the silo, grabbing pieces of corn to the throw into the pen. The hogs would grunt and run over to us, leaving hoof prints in the slimy mud. Nudging their snouts at the cobs, they would squeal with delight and quickly gobble up their feast. “Can we get more?” we’d beg our uncle and run back again to the silo to retrieve more ears of corn.
Summers were spent running and exploring the acres of land. I’d stand on tip toes, push my face against the glass of the small wooden structure and watch the feral barn cats play in their little home. They were too wild to pet or make friends with so I simply watched them climb over the all the old furniture in their little barn, scratching and clawing to their heart’s content.
We also enjoyed chasing the dogs, searching for frogs in the pond, rolling in the grass, visiting the barn-all that makes up a childhood spent on a farm.
I remember visiting on a day when piglets were born. I walked into the barn to watch, wide eyes as my uncle helped deliver a wet, tiny, squealing baby pig. To my young eyes, it was both gory and amazing at the same time. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I watched him give those tiny piglets their first shots.
It was my first year of high school when I cried even more while at that farm. We were there for our typical weekend visit when I hear my aunt and my parents talking about something serious. I learned that day that my aunt and uncle were getting a divorce.
Shock and confusion filled my heart. I deeply loved both of them and couldn’t understand why they couldn’t love each other. Though I had plenty of friends from broken homes, this was my first personal encounter with divorce. I began hearing horrible things about my uncle from my angry, hurt, and bitter aunt. The air was stifling with bitterness and anger, suffocating my chest. I remember wanting to shout, “Stop it! Just stop it! This is my uncle you are talking about!”
The innocence of childhood ended abruptly that day. Sweet memories of days spent exploring the farm became tainted by relationships torn apart. My aunt soon moved out and I never again returned to that farm.
Our first parents experienced both the beginning of life and the ending of how their life was defined, all in the same place. They enjoyed days spent exploring their garden, naming animals, and taking walks with God. Their life was innocent and carefree, lived in the moment and without fears or worry.
Then sin entered the world and their relationship with God was torn apart. Life as they knew it changed forever. Never again were they permitted to enter the Garden. Never again would they know life as innocent, simple, and carefree. Sweet memories of that place became tainted by sin and shame.
We all have experiences of joyful, carefree days. And we all have seen lives torn apart by sin. As long as we live in this world, we will continue to experience the cycle of new life beginning and of life ending. But the swords that barred reentrance into the Garden did not end the story of Adam and Eve. Genesis 3:15 promised a rescue plan, a way to bring God’s people back to Himself. Jesus fulfilled that plan through His life, death, and resurrection.
It’s because of Jesus that one day we will return to that Garden and to that place of eternal joy, carefree days, and complete innocence. When that new chapter begins, we will have eternity to explore the New Heavens and New Earth. Relationships there will never be torn apart. Memories will be created that will never be tainted by sin and shame. Life as we once knew it will be changed forever and forever changed for the good.
Do you look forward to that day?
Linking up with:
Word Filled Wednesday, Always Alleluia and Intentional.Me
Beautifully written. Thank you for sharing this. And yes, I do look forward to that day.
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you stopped by. And what a day that will be!
My heart aches as I read this and know the brokenness and separation that you share with us here. I breath in deeply and let out a sigh of relief knowing and hoping in the time that will come, the great marriage and consummation of us to our Beloved into an eternal Love that will never be broken.
Beautiful Post!
Thank you, sweet friend. We all know the pain of brokenness. I’m so thankful that He was willing to be broken for us so that we can one day join in that eternal dance with the Trinity. Blessings!
A powerful real-life metaphor, Christine - thank you for this.
Christina - typo, sorry {you know I know your name, right?!}
Of course:)
Oh, how I long for that. No bitterness, jealousy, anger, strife . . it will be glorious. It’s always hard, those first times of innocence crumbling our idealistic view of life. It just makes us hunger more for home. Love all those pictures of summer at a farm, gorgeous. Wondering if you had your meeting with a publisher/agent yet?
No new ones. Just the one publisher I happened to meet at a women’s conference. Still praying for what’s next:) Thanks for stopping by!
Beautiful post! I cannot wait for that day
You reminded me of this song by FFH, One of these days… https://youtu.be/uZ_YgcwIluQ
Blessings!
I love that song! What a glorious day that will be. Thanks for visiting!
I adore old barns. Love all the history and stories they hold, in their cobwebbed, hay-filled corners.
It’s amazing how some memories are so vivid. I think I lost all innocence when my father died and my step-father began his reign in our house a year later. Prayerfully I can keep my children’s innocence longer than my own! Yes, I think of reuniting with God. I admit, on hard days I actually call to Him to return. I can’t wait to be somewhere with no pain, only joy, peace and love. Thank you for sharing your heart and for allowing us to share in your walk!
Breath-taking photos, Christina.
And your stories of farm life make me feel like I lived it with you.
But your post moves into such great depth. Such meaningful musings of life and death, of unity and separation. All in one place.
Really, really great stuff here, friend. Lots to ponder.
Such a lovely post.
His rescue plan… Praise God for His rescue plan! I do long for this day, I love talking about it with my husband and with my children…instantly, we feel lighter as we hold onto His promise of returning.
Your photos always captivate me….and then the words that follow always pull me in completely.
Oh, I long for it. Ache for that day of glory! Hurts my heart to hear how you learned of this pain…makes us strive harder and fight for our kids, don’t you think?
Hugs to you, friend!
Oh.my.goodness. Great pics, beautiful post, incredible writing. Thanks for sharing this with us today. I can’t wait for life as we know it to be forever changed!
So sorry that you had to walk into this so sadly. Divorce was a definite part of my whole family when I was growing up. AND if a divorce didn’t come through, it was only b/c they couldn’t afford it, so they just stopped living together. It is hard to keep our focus on the Lord when so much sorrow and anger is flitting around. However, God is BIGGER and no matter how these events occur doesn’t mean the Lord can’t break into lives/hearts and turn them around.
The beginning of your story and photos are lovely. The rest is revealing and reality. Thank you.
What a beautiful analogy!
How did I miss this one…just beautiful…the pictures are awesome. Joy and Sorrow mingled together…until that day…oh yes that glorious day:)
I long for heaven in ways I can’t even articulate, some seasons the longing is so hard it hurts, and others it’s just a whisper… your words are beautiful, I am so thankful you chose to link THIS up today. You bless me!
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