I have been in this world for 77 Christmases. Those early years were not happy times. My parents struggled just to feed and clothe us without much left for toys. If we received anything more than clothes, it was fruit, nuts and little hard candy; sometimes it was a cheap toy. We usually went to grandma's house. If it was my paternal grandmother, we had a lot of food from her garden which she had canned earlier. She lived in town because my grandfather had died when I was only two. If we went to my maternal grandparents, who still lived on the farm, we usually had to work.
Watching my own children and grandchildren grow up has been a delight. The time we have had together is the most precious thing I know other than knowing the Lord. I have asked the Lord to allow me to see my great-grandchildren grow and then when He is ready for me, I want to come into His presence to be with Him and those I love in glory.
Some of them will be with us today. We will share more food than we can eat and give each other tokens of love and honor. But being together will be the most precious part of the day. We will miss Julie, who went to be with the Lord on December 21, 2009. We placed red roses on her grave last Sunday and we have reserved a place at the table for her as an expression our faith in the promise of Christ when he said: "I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
I pray constantly that the Father will hasten the day of His return. I desire that homecoming more than anything in this world. Today! Now! That would be the greatest Christmas.
Watching my own children and grandchildren grow up has been a delight. The time we have had together is the most precious thing I know other than knowing the Lord. I have asked the Lord to allow me to see my great-grandchildren grow and then when He is ready for me, I want to come into His presence to be with Him and those I love in glory.
Some of them will be with us today. We will share more food than we can eat and give each other tokens of love and honor. But being together will be the most precious part of the day. We will miss Julie, who went to be with the Lord on December 21, 2009. We placed red roses on her grave last Sunday and we have reserved a place at the table for her as an expression our faith in the promise of Christ when he said: "I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there you may be also."
I pray constantly that the Father will hasten the day of His return. I desire that homecoming more than anything in this world. Today! Now! That would be the greatest Christmas.
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