Letter From the Editor

Have you ever said to yourself, I thought we’d have more time? If you’ve ever unexpectedly lost someone you loved, you’ve probably thought that. You thought they’d be there longer. You thought you could have one more conversation. Share one more cup of coffee. Laugh together just one. more. time.

It just doesn’t work that way, does it? We never know when anyone’s last day is going to be. My dad died almost 17 years ago of a sudden heart attack. My sisters and I weren’t prepared for it because neither my mom nor my brother, who was close by, wanted to tell us of his frequent visits to the ER or the calls to 911 in the months before he died. 

Suddenly, he just wasn’t there anymore.

Accidents and illness can take people from us in a moment. Moves, distance, unexpected change can do the same thing, just not permanently. But in all these things, time is a factor. 

So how do you go about making the most of your time? Does it mean being more productive, or being present with those you love whenever you can? 

In his letter to the scattered believers, James wrote,  “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.’”

A mist. A vapor. Something here one day and gone the next. And so we are called to make the most of our time. Build God’s kingdom. Invest in people. Be all there for your family. Do what God is calling you to do.

In this month’s Redbud Post, our writers tackle the theme of time. I think you will learn so much from their experiences. As you spend, yes, time, in this issue, make sure you let our writers know what you think. Take a moment to leave a comment. It would mean a lot to them.

Bless you, friends. Thank you for stopping by. Be sure to share this issue with your friends.

Stephanie Reeves
Editor in Chief