It's late here and I still want to work on Advent a little bit, so I will just quickly share something that I was thinking about the other day.
The holiday season tends to make us re-evaluate our relationships, especially with relatives. And we may feel fresh pain over those who are far away or no longer with us. When I let myself think about numbers (how many miles, time zones; number of times we have left to see each other in this world), it does get hard.
This week we lit the candle of Hope, and here are a few observations that give me hope:
1) I am not separated from my loved ones due to conflict.
Conflict creates a feeling of emptiness. When we fight with those we love; when we are estranged from them (even for a few hours) and our intimacy is threatened, it makes a hole in our hearts.
Physical separation creates a hole, too. But then I stop to think that I'm NOT in conflict with these people I miss. The distance does not make us love each other any less and we are not inferior to those families who see each other on a regular basis.
God places us in families, but He also scatters us. This calling should not ultimately be a source of grief, even if we have moments of grieving.
2) We will see each other in Heaven.
It is an amazing blessing when we have family members who believe in Christ. We can know that nothing will separate us OR our believing relatives from the love of Christ. They are safe in His hands.
Sometimes time feels short, and we never know how much time we have. But time works differently with God, and He has it all worked out perfectly.
The holiday season tends to make us re-evaluate our relationships, especially with relatives. And we may feel fresh pain over those who are far away or no longer with us. When I let myself think about numbers (how many miles, time zones; number of times we have left to see each other in this world), it does get hard.
This week we lit the candle of Hope, and here are a few observations that give me hope:
1) I am not separated from my loved ones due to conflict.
Conflict creates a feeling of emptiness. When we fight with those we love; when we are estranged from them (even for a few hours) and our intimacy is threatened, it makes a hole in our hearts.
Physical separation creates a hole, too. But then I stop to think that I'm NOT in conflict with these people I miss. The distance does not make us love each other any less and we are not inferior to those families who see each other on a regular basis.
God places us in families, but He also scatters us. This calling should not ultimately be a source of grief, even if we have moments of grieving.
2) We will see each other in Heaven.
It is an amazing blessing when we have family members who believe in Christ. We can know that nothing will separate us OR our believing relatives from the love of Christ. They are safe in His hands.
Sometimes time feels short, and we never know how much time we have. But time works differently with God, and He has it all worked out perfectly.
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