Hello & welcome, I have been waiting with excitement to share our time together. I have made Gf carrot cup cakes with cream cheese frosting & brewed a Morning black tea blend, grown & refined here in Australia.
The cup cakes are so moist & delicious, with the frosting so creamy! I haven’t made these for years as they’re so morish you can’t stop at one!
We are seated looking out across the bay, protected from the cold wind, in the lovely warm sunshine. With the sound of the waves lapping upon the shoreline.
Now we are enjoying our tea & treat, we will begin our reflection.
A Circle of friends
I watched a movie length documentary the other day with a dear friend, we don’t often watch documentaries together but on this occasion we did.
It was about the lives of four very accomplished women in the same profession. But whom had led very unique lives while continuing a life long friendship.
Apparently they often get together to catch up, but on this occasion a film crew was present filming. My friend & I roared with laughter at many of the funny things said & unsaid by these women, wo were obviously close friends, while chatting around the table with each other.
But in the last 30 minutes of this documentary, the mood completely changed.
It had been a day of fond reminiscing, friendly teasing, inside friendly banter & a discussion on more serious memories of their first husbands (whom had since passed).
There had been both endearing & surprising behaviour from these four octogenarian friends during the filming.
The Finale
But what changed the mood so suddenly? It was the mention of a friend who had made their own preplanned funeral arrangements.
All those around the table became very somber, although a few were feisty, in how dare this friend ask if they too had made plans for their funerals.
Yes, the mood had definitely changed! I clearly observed real fear take up residence in each one of their faces on this subject.
Then the matriarch of the group abruptly ended the filming.
While eating lunch & drinking cups of tea, after the film, my friend & I discussed how interesting it had been to watch & learn more about these women.
Though later that night, I found myself rather deep in thought about these ladies.
An Observation
These women had all reached the absolute pinnacle of their profession, each had been honoured & awarded the highest title of the land for their work.
But none of them had any future Eternal hope.
Each one had shown a real palpable fear of death & dying. This is not my judgement but an observation through decades of experience in Clinically Counselling.
A quote kept coming to mind as I reflected upon this, it was a quote that hung in the main lecture theatre at the Bible college I graduated from;
“Only one earth life, Soon it will pass, Only what’s done for Jesus will last.”
C.T. Studd
I thought of my own personal account of dying shared in the following excerpt;
And the promised hope that I have come to know intimately through Jesus. Death for me does not hold any fear or terror for I know whom I believe & what awaits those whom believe in Him.
Do you fear death my friend?
There is One who can take that fear & turn it into joyful hope if you but allow Him. More in Prayer
Until next time,
Jennifer
You’re most welcome to join me in The Reading Nook
© 2018 Jennifer M. Ross, teawithjennifer.blog All rights reserved. Photo by Pexels.com
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Ah, I often think with sadness on those who have no hope. I’ve felt desperate at times, but never hopeless. It really makes a difference to know that this life isn’t the end.
Hopefully, they too will find the hope that is available to all!
How sad that people can be so accomplished in their careers and never seek to understand what God has to say about life and death and eternity. Beautiful, thoughtful post. Pinning on my “posts worth reading” board.
Oh thank you Donna, I appreciate your sharing my post! What an honor.
I have found that people get focused on their present achievements & goals for their lives & careers but sadly miss the One who had given Life itself.
Sounds like that was a very moving documentary! I just finished reading Joan Chittister’s book “The Gift of Years.” It was a wonderful read, but often times sober as well. We all will die but too often we’d rather not think about it, to our own neglect.
That sounds an intersting read Lisa, yes we don’t need to focus on death but definitely be prepared for it & where we will spend eternity. Lovely to have you drop by for a time together.
Jennifer, what a lovely post as always. I would love to see the documentary. Death is as sure as breath. Yet so many are fearful and have made no preparations to meet the Creator of life. The quote is also a beautiful song. Thank you for using your blog to point people to Jesus.
Thank you Pam for your kind words, I didn’t know it was a song! I’ll have to look it up.
It’s an absolute joy to be a tour guide in pointing out the way to the greatest adventure any of us can possibly experience…a relationship with our Creator through His Son.
Hi Jennifer, I landed here from Twitter and was fascinated by your thoughts…so relaxed yet so profound! Yes, we get just one life but theories of reincarnation don’t seem to believe so. What is your take on that?
Death scares only the young, life lessons make us resilient and we learn to detach and embrace death calmly.
Nice to have you drop by, I didn’t know I was on Twitter! Just wondering if you got a chance to read the link posts on Excerpt & My Story that were in highlighted blue text which will answer your query quite profoundly.
A tweet by a blogger friend allured me to your post, probably the topic…’Only one life…led me.
Hi, Jennifer. How wonderful that you had the opportunity to watch this documentary with dear friends. We are all faced with the inevitability of leaving this earth one day..your wonderful quote is what matters most–knowing that life on earth is fleeting we are blessed not only by the people here who have touched our lives, but that blessed assurance that our Lord and Savior Jesus is watching and waiting to welcome us home. ❤ Blessings and love… xo
Thank you Bette, so nice to have you here. I love your summary of our time of reflection together ♥
Delightful as always, Jennifer. It sounds like a very interesting documentary. It’s unfortunate that even believers often struggle with the decisions about things such as you describe. My mother had been a Christian and yet as she neared death, she became fearful.
Hope you are well! Would love one of those cupcakes about now…nearly time for dinner as I write this!
Hugs,
Pam
Lovely to have you drop by Pam, yes some Christians need that reassurance as they become more vulnerable through aging.
While I agree with you about faith, I would like to see this film. You didn’t mention the title. Is it widely available?
It is a newer release here Elizabeth, Tea with the Dames, not sure if it is in US yet though.
Thanks. I will keep looking.
Yes indeed aging brings up many memories and thoughts. I celebrated my 70th in April. Fear? Sometimes because there’s so much still left to experience but then I remember that this is a fleeting existance and I know I will be with my Creator.
Hi Carol, I’m glad you dropped in, it is lovely to have you here, yes the promise of spending eternity with Our Lord. What peace!
Jennifer, I envy your faith and how it has overcome the fear of the unknown.
Thank you Bernadette…