“There is a time for everything … a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance” (Eccl. 3:1, 4 NIV).

Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles.” But today in Thailand no one smiles. No one laughs. No one dances. All the color seems to have gone out of the world. For the Thai people, it is a time to weep and mourn.

To Thais everywhere, His Majesty, King Bhumibol Adulydej, is known as Paa Luuang Bpuuang Thai, (The Father of Every Thai). On October 13, 2016, 70 years after ascending to the throne of the Kingdom of Thailand, at 3:52 in the afternoon, King Bhumibol the Great, the ninth monarch of the Chakri Dynasty, drew his last breath.

H.M. the King of Thailand was truly loved by his people. And he loved them, too. For seven decades, H.M. the King traveled almost unceasingly from one end of the country to the other, working for the good of his people. Though he carried the respected title of Phra Chao Yu Hua, or Lord Atop the Head, he was always close to the people, listening to their requests and serving them as a loving father.

In the days after his passing, the nation was silent. It is still quiet. You don’t hear the sound of singing coming from the karaoke lounges. You don’t hear people laughing as they sit together to eat. Celebrations and festivals have been cancelled. All Thai TV stations have stopped broadcasting entertainment programs. The radio broadcasts are subdued, and the music is somber. Even Thai websites are completely black and white. For one year from the date of the King’s death, all government workers will wear black as a symbol of mourning and respect to the late monarch, and in the first month after his death, most citizens wore only black or white clothing as well. His Majesty the King was the heart and life of the Thai people. Now that life is gone, and all color with it.

Please continue to pray for the people of Thailand as they grieve. And pray for us as we seek to point them to their Risen, Eternal King.

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