A Time For Everything

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born, And a time to die;
A time to plant, And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill, And a time to heal;
A time to break down, And a time to build up;
A time to weep, And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn, And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones, And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain, And a time to lose;
A time to keep, And a time to throw away;
A time to tear, And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;
A time to love, And a time to hate;
A time of war, And a time of peace.
(Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 NKJV)

This passage was given to me by a camp counselor after a boyfriend I had in 8th grade died from a hang gliding accident. It was the first real glimpse and understanding I had of who God is. It is the first time I took great comfort in His word. This remains perhaps, my favorite of all the scriptures to this day. The longer I live, the more comfort it gives. It goes hand in hand with the idea that everything happens for a reason. I have a solid and unshakable belief that God can birth something good from every tragedy… if we will only let Him.