Parts of speech are a lot like Life. Some of them are used more frequently than others, just as some seasons of Life stretch out before us- seemingly and deceptively infinite in nature. Yet Life has a way of placing definitive parentheses around certain seasons and exclamation points after others. Every season and each part of speech has a purpose, a function.

Prepositions- there are nearly 150 in the English language. These small, unassuming words are used more frequently than any other part of speech. “Of, to, in” are among the 10 most frequently used words. Prepositions indicate location or some other relationship between a noun and a pronoun and the other parts of a sentence.

Life is marked by prepositions: after children, before grandchildren, through breast cancer, beside a life partner, and  amid transitions.  A preposition isn’t a preposition unless it goes with a related noun or pronoun affectionately named the object of the preposition. And life- the seasons that bring us Joy and inevitably deliver Sorrow- aren’t really worth the journey without a purpose, a relationship.

We search for that all-encompassing purpose, that elusive function through each season. First we peer through the looking-glass of child-rearing. We can build an entire identity in essay style as we linger here. This season masquerades as if it will last forever, when in reality it lives  briefly and leaves us breathless and wistful- the After.

Before grandchildren and beside your life partner are beautiful moments that leave you smiling as you get to know the man you chose all over again. You take deep, cleansing breaths and enjoy the illusion that this season will last forever.

Through breast cancer is a season that truly doesn’t end- even when you swim your way to survival’s shore. There is always the next blood draw, the annual chest x-ray, the six-month check-up, the waiting and wondering.

Amid all the transitions you gather strength, laughter, and ultimately JOY. You discover that moving on to the next stage, the new season, the big event is really not what Life is about. Life is about a preposition that we often neglect: with…

With is the connection- the bringer of the object of our preposition. With great love, With deep sorrow, With contagious laughter, With abundant JOY. With Jesus.

When you look in the rearview mirror you can see His footprints. After the children are grown, Before the grandchildren arrive, Beside your life partner, Through the breast cancer, Amid each of Life’s transitions.

So in this Christmas season and in the midst of whatever transition you are experiencing, look for the With. And there you will find Him..

“All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet. The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel- which means, “God with us.”  -Matthew 1:22-23