Saturday, December 26, 2009

Joy and Sadness



The current holiday season is always one of mixed emotions for us. It’s such a joyous time as we think about the most important part, the Incarnation and what that means for the brethren in Christ. Then there is the hugs and kisses with family who gravitate to our home, and the special once-every-twelve-months hours spent with children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Then the emotions of the experience swings the other way; they begin to leave for their several homes, 2000, 1400 kilometres away, then 250, and thankfully, one only 80 kilometres. All but the latter, a single daughter, whom we see regularly, we hug and kiss on an annual basis, because we are now not able to travel to them. How precious those hugs and kisses are, they have to last twelve months!

This time was extra special, because they very carefully sprang a belated, surprise 70th birthday celebration, something which I had sternly told them not to do. Of course, like children everywhere, they had a well-reasoned excuse for their disobedience, “You didn’t forbid it for four months later!”

Two sons and their wives, who are unable to be with us for Christmas, made the effort to join in this forbidden celebration.

I thank God for such earthly exhibition of love and gratitude.

Even more so, I thank God for His majestic exhibition of love towards this most undeserving creature, and that my wife and children, with me above, have also received of that heavenly love, “by grace through faith”, and celebrate with us. I pray that will be true for our grandchildren, as well as our great-grandchildren with Valerie and I in the photo above.

2 comments:

Paul Burleson said...

What a delightful post and a great family. My prayer is that you and all that pertain to you will have a great New Year whatever that year brings.

Aussie John said...

Paul,

Thank you for exercising those new fingers to bless me. I trust our prayer answering Father will cause your New Year to bring glory to His name and blessing to yourself and family ( one of which is able, by his blog articles, to bring out some amazing, even undesirable, character traits in a few.

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