It’s Empty Now 现在全空了
Dexu Xia
How deserted lies the city, once so full of people! Lamentations 1:1
My brothers and our families spent the day moving our parents’ belongings from our childhood home. Late in the afternoon, we went back for one last pickup and, knowing this would be our final time in our family home, posed for a picture on the back porch. I was fighting tears when my mom turned to me and said, “It’s all empty now.” That pushed me over the edge. The house that holds fifty-four years of memories is empty now. I try not to think of it.
The ache in my heart resonates with Jeremiah’s first words of Lamentations: “How deserted lies the city, once so full of people!” (1:1). An important difference is that Jerusalem was empty “because of her many sins” (v. 5). God exiled His people to Babylon because they rebelled against Him and refused to repent (v. 18). My parents weren’t moving because of sin, at least not directly. But ever since Adam’s sin in the garden of Eden, each person’s health has declined over their lifetime. As we age, it’s not unusual for us to downsize into homes that are easier to maintain.
I’m thankful for the memories that made our modest home special. Pain is the price of love. I know the next goodbye won’t be to my parents’ home but to my parents themselves. And I cry. I cry out to Jesus to come, put an end to goodbyes, and restore all things. My hope is in Him.
By: Mike Wittmer
What place holds fond memories for you? Thank God for the people who loved you there. How might you make new memories today?
Father, thank You for giving me a home in Your forever family。
先前满有人民的城，现在何竟独坐！—耶利米哀歌1章1节
我们几兄弟和其他家人花了一天的时间，合力把爸妈的物品从我们童年的住家搬出来。那天下午稍晚，我们回去载最后一些物品，知道这是最后一次待在这个房子里，便在后院拍了合照。我一直强忍着泪水，当母亲转头对我说：“现在全空了！”我不禁瞬间泪崩。这个承载了54年回忆的房子现在已人去楼空，我真不敢再多想。
耶利米哀歌的头几句话，就是我当时心情的写照：“先前满有人民的城，现在何竟独坐！”（1章1节）但最大的不同在于，耶路撒冷的荒凉是因“许多的罪过”（5节）。上帝将祂的百姓放逐到巴比伦，是因他们违逆上帝且不愿悔改（18节）。我的双亲之所以搬家，不是因为罪的缘故，至少这不是直接的理由。然而，自从亚当在伊甸园犯了罪，人们的健康就会随年龄增长而每况愈下。当我们日渐老迈，通常会选择住进较小的房子，容易打理和维护。
我很感恩，我们这简朴的房子因美好的回忆而变得如此特别。痛苦是爱的代价。我知道，下一次要告别的将不是父母的房子，而是我的父母，想到这件事我不禁伤心流泪。为此，我呼求耶稣快来复兴一切，让我们再也无须经历死亡的离别。祂就是我的盼望。
作者： 韦陌格
你在何处有美好的回忆？请为在那里爱你的人感谢上帝。今天，你要如何创造新的回忆呢？
天父，感谢祢让我在祢永恒的大家庭中，
为我安排了永远的居所