To My Family...

Over the past few weeks I have been thinking a lot about my family. It's the holiday season, a time filled with many traditions and I am not able to participate in any of them with my family due to being miles and miles away from them. But since moving here I've grown to appreciate them more and more with each day that I can't just hop in my car and go see them. I miss my dad with whom I can just sit in a room with and not say a word, knowing that all we need is to be there and all is well. I miss my mom who asks me tons and tons of questions and while I usually got flustered with so many questions, I always knew she was interested in my life. I miss my sister whom I hardly ever talked to when I was 15 minutes away and now wish I could talk to more but can't because there's a 9 hour difference. I miss Glenn, my sister's husband, who pesters me like only an older brother could. I miss my grandparents who always knew how to take care of me and who just wanted me to come over so they could tell me about the good ol' days, whether it be true or some crazy, made-up story and I was the only one who would listen. I miss the laughter of my family. I know that this is a bit of a downer of a post, but there is much that I have learned from all of this. I've learned how to appreciate my family. I've seen how much they love me. I've been able to take a step back and look at them and love them even more than I once did. I long to see them again but I trust in the Lord and know that He will comfort me as I spend this season basking in His presence and completely relying on Him because He is all I have. I am getting to truly see the Lord as the baby in the manger who came to reconcile my relationship to His Father. I am getting to experience Him in ways that I have never experienced before. So in this season, family, as you spend it with one less chair at the table, remember that I am being held by a most loving Father. Remember that I miss you greatly and long to be there but my life is not my own and so I walk in faith towards the Father.