As I've grown older, more and more things in my life have begun to change. When I was young, my whole family would gather at my parents' home. We would eat together and open gifts. And I would get a lot of presents.
As time went on, we began to get less presents. My family would still come over and we would still eat and spend time together.
These last few years, we get maybe one present from each person. And there are fewer members of my immediate family coming to the house. Whether due to marriage or death, there's less of them there on that day.
As I've grown older, I've begun to realize more and more to cherish the time we have with others. We never know what time we have left with people. Cathrine Hicks once said, "Before we took down the tree each year, Dad would always say a prayer that we would be together the next Christmas. I cling to that prayer, which serves as a reminder that it's important to be grateful in the present for the people you love because, well, you never know."
That quote hits me harder this year. Last Christmas I wrote about the gift of grief. My grandmother died two days after Christmas last year. A family friend died around Thanksgiving last year. I won't get to see them anymore at any Christmas events here on earth.
See, year after year, things change. People die or move on, there's less presents, and the sadness could overtake a person. But things also change the other way. This year, I have a new brother-in-law. My brother has a girlfriend. While we lose those we love, and it hurts, we can be thankful for who we still have and those we have gained. We can pray that prayer each year and be thankful for who was there. And we can thank God for the gifts he's given us. Gifts that are tangible, yes; but also the gifts of relationships we have. Whether those relationships are in the past, in the present, or in the future. Because, one day, I know I will have a great celebration in heaven with those I've lost. And we can praise God for the gift of his son so that is possible.
So, are you thankful for the time you've spent with family? How can you show those you love that you are thankful for them?
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