Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Loose Track of Time

Glenda Knox &
Grandson, Knox Sanders



Written in memory of
Glenda Kay Brown Knox







I don't feel complete without my watch.  I wear it every day and constantly check the time.  Now, this doesn't mean I'm EVER on time.  I'm not.  I simply like to know the time since I usually have something else to do (or I'm bored), but when I'm doing what I love, I don't look at my watch and lose track of time.



Luke, David, Sheila,
Glenda & Sam
Chimney Rock, N.C.
If I walk on a track or a treadmill, which is never, I constantly look at my watch hoping time will speed up; however, when I walk in the woods or hike in the mountains where there's rocks, waterfalls, trees, and a worn path,  I lose track of time.  When reading fiction, I neither know nor care about time.  Several hours pass, and I lose track of time and forgot about problems.

Katy & yard
 helper, Hershey
Gardening is strenuous; I dig, pull, and plant.  I do this in South Carolina; I sweat, and the mosquitoes love all over my dirty self.  I DO NOT care. After hours in my yard, I'm oblivious to time and don't want to stop.  If I happen to think about problems when gardening, I talk to God, so it's a great way to relieve stress.

Life is so stressful, isn't it? There's so much to do and think about.  Worry and strife never ends, does it? Because we're human.  We make mistakes and live with consequences from our actions and the actions of others.  I can complain, yet worry, stress, and strife continue.  Again, it's life. 

yellow daylilies
When digging and planting, I think about a gardener I love and miss.  In November of 1996, my aunt Glenda dug up two clumps of yellow daylilies from her yard, put them in a plastic grocery bag, handed them to me and promised, "you can't kill a daylily."  I planted them dormant in my yard and hoped for the best. One beautiful March morning only 4 months later, I saw daylilies coming up for the first time in my yard. A few hours later, Glenda died suddenly of a heart attack while trimming a butterfly bush, one of the saddest days of my life.  We sold our house and moved in November when the daylilies were dormant, but the following March, the new homeowners allowed me to dig up my aunt Glenda's daylilies.  The flowers stayed under my house in a pot for a month until I dug a special place for them to grow and multiply.


home around Japanese
maple tree
Susi, Katy, Amy
I've never worked in my yard one time in the past 17 years that I didn't wish Glenda could see her yellow daylilies, given to her from my grandmother, and many other flowers growing in my yard.  I know she would be proud of me.  She'd give me gardening advice but also constructive criticism.  She'd probably comment, "you should see Amy's flowers; they're beautiful." So, feeling a little jealous, I'd text my cousin Amy, her daughter, to hear, "Mom always says, 'you should see Katy's flowers,'"  and we'd have a great laugh. We often share and laugh about Glenda.  



Amy & Glenda
my wedding
But, this can't happen.  On Glenda's birthday in March, Amy shared this.
If my mom were alive she would be celebrating her 74th birthday!! She was a tough chick but loved and appreciated by so many! Oh how I'd love for God to let me spend an afternoon with her again...to fill her in on our lives since 1997....however, I know there is nothing happening here that is more glorious than heaven!feeling peace

I have no idea what heaven is like, but If I had to guess, I'd say Glenda isn't looking at her watch.  She's worshipping God and doesn't want to stop.

No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. Revelation 22:3 NLT

Some versions state servants will serve him. Heaven is not of this earth, so we can't fully comprehend what this worship or service looks like, but we won't have any desire to stop.  I believe, and this is strictly opinion, we'll lose track of time. We'll worship God continually, and this will be our only desire.

Other than God and other believers, including people I love and miss, I don't know what's in heaven.  I only know what's not: headaches, back aches, or surgeries.  There are no insecurities, mean spirited words, or jealousies.   There are no heart attacks, cancer or Alzheimer's patients, hospitals or nursing homes. There is no abuse or deception.  There are no traumas, addictions, mental illnesses, or broken hearts. There are no murderers, victims, money problems, poverty, or hunger. 


Glenda & Stuart
He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever. Revelation 21:4 NLT

Will we lose all track of time in heaven?  Maybe. Maybe not. It's more than I intend to study.  But, can you imagine a life where your feelings are never hurt? There's room for you and me, and strife will be over. Pain will be gone. Tears will be dry.  Our time will be spent with God. 

Hope & Glenda

I don't think I'll need my watch,

Katy



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