Tears and Jubilation

I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy 

2 (Timothy 1:3,4)

Contrasts are interesting to me. They seem to pop out of the text and challenge me to see why they were used. In this short text at the beginning of Paul's last letter we have a contrast that might escape our attention if we aren't paying the same (attention that is). Did you see it? I am not thinking of the "night and day" contrast that Paul mentions. Because that contrast relates that he prayed a lot and is a descriptor of time. The one that I noted was found in what he said in verse four. He says, "Being mindful of thy tears ... that I may be filled with joy"

Paul remembered how that Timothy had cried as he saw Paul leave. Paul had probably ministered together with Timothy at Ephesus for awhile and then Paul went on. Leaving loved ones is hard and those left behind suffer as much as the displaced. Paul knew that a reunion would be sweet and he really hoped that it would happen. 

Then he was executed. 

Could Paul have imagined that he and his son in the Faith would not see each other again until they reached the heavenly shore? I think that he was envisioning an earthly meeting but God changed the plan. It has now been nearly 2000 years since Paul greeted Timothy, who according to tradition, was also martyred for his faith. Paul's joy was totally "complete" at that meeting. 

Life is change and life is separation. However, in salvation, Christ brings eternal unity and no "change like shifting shadows".(see James 1:17)