Family

Christmas is past, the packages are open, the wrapping is gone, but the warmth of the day is still lingering behind in my heart. It was the best Christmas for me because I am surrounded by family and I revel in their presence. It was so good to attend church together and fill a whole row of seats at the Christmas Worship Service the day before Christmas. Then the next morning it was so fun to watch the expressions of each face as we opened our gifts together, to hear the laughter of the boys throughout the day playing with their new toys, and the men joining in beside them whenever they wanted to get in on the fun, sitting around the dinner table as we ate our Christmas dinner, then doing dishes with my daughter-in-law and sharing in our thoughts of family and life together, playing a card game that my niece taught us, watching "Cars" DVD late in the evening after a wonderful day. Family----all under the same roof together! It was pure joy for me!

In Revelation, God tells us that one day we will be a part of a greater family with God as our Father and with joys unending!
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning, or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." Can you imagine the unity, the joy, the togetherness, that we will be a part of in that glorious future? Until then, God has allowed us to taste the goodness of it all in our own families here on earth. Choose to allow this new year to bring you and your families closer as a unit, to share in each other's joys and sorrows, and love each other as never before!

Grateful for God's promises of togetherness!
Sandy