Chapter 34
Last week, I wrote about delays, and now I find myself six days behind schedule. As this week comes to a close, and we take time to rest and prepare for the next, I wanted to share a brief but inspiring thought from Taras in Ukraine. Even in times of delay and uncertainty, there’s strength in reflection and resilience.
In these times of ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the words of Psalm 13:1 resonate deeply: “How long wilt thou forget me, O LORD? for ever? how long wilt thou hide thy face from me?” The pain of feeling abandoned and the desperate longing for divine intervention are echoed in the heartbreaking story of Melissa.
Born on July 6 to Helga and Andriy, Melissa entered this world on the same day that Andriyko her uncle was fatally wounded and died due to the war. In their family, joy and grief have intertwined like light and shadow. “To everything, there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born and a time to die…” Melissa’s birth, coinciding with Andriyko’s tragic death, feels like a poignant sign from the Lord. It is as if the outgoing and incoming generations, the protector and the protected, crossed paths for a brief moment, passing the baton of life amidst the chaos. Taras M. Dyatlyk, Ukraine
August 24, 2024
“Zichrono livracha” may his memory be a blessing.
Philemon