Letter to the editor: Mulling family perspectives through the years

Dear Editor,

I am sure if you are human that some time in your life you have pondered the passage of time. I remember one time years ago another New Year approached, and I spoke out loud to myself, “Where does the time go?”

My small son heard me and seriously walked up and looked at me and asked, “Dad, where does the time go?” as if it had to get up and go somewhere.

Time, and all it represents, is a profound concept. I remember when 2000 came, and so many people sincerely thought and worried that it could be the end of the world as we knew it, (and in many ways it did usher in a new era), but the world and mankind survived and are still here making a mark in the universe as the days and years come and go.

When I was a boy growing up my dad died, leaving our mom and five kids shocked and wondering, “What will we do now?” We survived by the Grace of God and with close friends by our side to help us move forward, but time stood still for me that Sunday morning in April when Dad died.

This year a few days before Mother’s Day, God called my mother home. Fortunately, we had her many years and watched her persevere through difficulty, raising us all up and showing us how to move out into the world. Time passes by.

Every year I make a visit to our loved ones’ burial site and kneel down by their graves and think as I am sure so many have that the little dash between birth date and death date is the story of their life. Yes, everyone has a story.

As eternity awaits all of us, I must declare I feel blessed to have been a part of a close family growing up, and now also, as I have my own family with my wife, children and grandchildren. God is good.

I love seeing the world through the eyes of my young grandchildren. It’s a much better view than the world we often see as adults.

We baby boomers are fast becoming the older generation now, and hopefully for the sake of our children and grandchildren we can, and will, show them that the world is still a wonderful place and America a most beautiful country. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we would be able to keep the Christmas spirit alive throughout the year in how we think and treat other people while we move forward into 2026? Happy New Year and God bless America!   

In the Gospel of John 16:33 Jesus tells us, “In the world we shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.”

Ron Massine