Ecclesiastes 3:1 – To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. (KJV)

Things come. Things go. Life changes. Often these changes, even in keeping with the times, can throw a person for a loop.

Such was the case when Rev. Robin Ross called to inform me that March 31, 2025, would be the last day of publishing new material for the PresbyCan Daily Devotional. It all began on May 25, 1996, as his brainchild, and has been a huge part of his life's passion and work for almost 30 years … learning to grow it as each new phase of technology advanced. He has told, in four devotionals, the story of how it developed: What God Has Prepared, Death Of A Vision, Bread On The Waters, and All One Body.

But much, much more than that, is how he patiently worked with each of the contributors through the years. Some were accomplished writers, and some, such as myself, were not. In response to a single question to him in 1997, he suggested I write about it — although I stated that I wasn't a writer. In the following years, guided and edited, I ended up writing some 400 devotionals.

The Daily (as it used to be called) was one of the families that Rev. Ross raised and/or guided to a point in time where his part in each one's purpose was fulfilled: his children, his congregations, and now Daily.

Though Rev. Ross is the impetus that kept Daily moving, it was not without the help of staff and writers — volunteers all — and the thousands of devoted readers, each and every one of whom will feel some degree of loss.

The numbers are staggering … from a handful of writers in the beginning to a total of 516, and from 700 readers to a peak of 6,200.

What does one do when their life's purpose as they knew it is fulfilled, when what was familiar to them is over?

Or is it?

Take the words in Isaiah 30:21 – "Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left." (NKJV)

Or those in Psalm 32:8 – "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you." (NIV) This is a prime example of the sayings, Let go and let God or Thy will, Lord, not mine.

New devotionals for the Daily may have ended their season, but what they were will never end as they'll be on the Internet in perpetuity. What a legacy for Robin Ross to leave behind: minister, editor, teacher, mentor.

After allowing ourselves a time to grieve this loss, we hope we can come to a place best stated by that famous writer of children's books … Dr. Seuss: "Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened."

It seems only fitting to close with Rev. Ross's prayer in his devotional entitled, All One Body.

Prayer: Today, Lord, we give You thanks for Your wisdom in making us part of the body of Christ. We rejoice in the volunteers that You have placed in the Daily family: writers, readers, prayer warriors, and staff. May our lives together give You the glory that You deserve above all others. In Christ's name, we pray. Amen.

Mary Daniel <marydee@shaw.ca>
Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Encourage Today's Writer

My Closing Remarks

Since I announced the end of new material for the PresbyCan Daily Devotional, I have been greatly encouraged by the outpouring of appreciative messages which I have received. Thank you for letting me know what the Daily has meant to you!

Since my announcement two weeks ago, my thinking has evolved full-circle in regard to my plan to turn Daily into a low-maintenance website. I had originally thought of ending the daily emails and presenting ten random devotionals on the home webpage. But my son suggested presenting automatically each day a pre-selected set of devotionals from either that date or the special day in previous years, so that, for example, on Easter Day, Easter devotionals would appear.

I had also announced, however, that we were going to continue the PrayerLine feature, because it is the most-visited page on our website. Last Friday evening, a reader asked whether the PrayerLine requests could continue to go out automatically in a daily email. It was only then that I realized that such an email could also automatically contain a selection of devotionals just like the website. So, the Daily emails will continue! The key words are "automatically" and "low-maintenance", which mean that I will be able to watch over the website — from a distance! My responsibilities were getting too heavy. It was just time!

There are a few thoughts that I would like to share with you as we close this chapter of life. Firstly, we have no idea of what effects may result from the actions that we do in obedience to the Lord. Undoubtedly, the devotionals were read by thousands more than just the people who read them by email, on the website, forwarded by friends, or as "likes" on Facebook. We also have very little or no idea how the written word influenced the spiritual lives of those who read it. What a great day it will be when the Lord finally reveals what our efforts have contributed to fulfilling His plan for His people!

Secondly, I want to encourage every Christian to bend every effort as an obedient disciple to do what the Lord desires us to do. May we all look forward, as I do, to the possibility of hearing those amazing words that the Lord spoke first to His disciples in a parable: "Well done, good and faithful servant; … Enter into the joy of your lord." (Matthew 25:23 NKJV)

I especially want to recognize the faithful work of our dedicated volunteer staff. Jane Anne Waller was the first to come on staff to help with the subscriptions and feedback. James T. Hurd has been my backup for reviewing theology and proper editing. Mary Jane Hanson, Elaine Ingalls Hogg, and Sharon Cook have assisted in receiving and processing devotionals. Garnet Schenck and George Myers have moderated the PrayerLine requests, and Terry Folster has posted devotionals to Facebook each day. Thank you, all!

I would also like to thank my wife, Evelyn, and our children for the uncountable hours that they gave me away from them, and for their support over all those years.

To you, dear reader, thank you for sticking with us. Although we may not have met in person, I look forward to seeing you in heaven!

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About the author:

Robin Ross <rross@telus.net>
Mission, British Columbia, Canada
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