This morning as my heart pondered the feelings of deep loss this Holiday season, my eyes filled with tears and my heart had a deep ache. Memories of happy days growing up and sitting around the Thanksgiving table with Mom & Dad, brothers sisters and sometimes even an Aunt or other relative. In the afternoon the men would gather together and discuss their strategy for their evening deer hunt and off they would go, each to their designated spot, hoping for blessings of meat for the freezer and the long winter ahead.
As years moved on and the scenes changed, first Mom went to be with Jesus in 2017 and this year in February, Dad went to be with the Lord as well, the reality of heaven seemed closer. I guess it seems, as each one who held a very dear spot in my heart is called to heaven, more and more of my heart is there, and most of all knowing that they are in the presence of our Dear Savior, makes me long more for heaven.
Dad was never the same after Mom was gone. He would always sit with a distant look in His eyes, and if I would ask him what he’s thinking, he would say, “I just miss Mom. I want to go be with Mom”
As he got sick and the Doctors made it clear he had only one option, and that being dialysis for the rest of his life, he with a clear mind, and steady voice said “No, I don’t want to do that. I know God has a place prepared for me where Mom is, and I’m ready to go to be with the Lord.” Wow, I was so challenged by his courage. You know my dear friends, it takes a lot of courage to look death in the face and say I do not fear you. But you see that is scriptural…
And then… as I was looking through some photos a few days ago I came across one I hadn’t seen before, a photo of more recent happy days. Days filled with much promise, love and a feeling of finding the missing piece of the puzzle of my life. That Thanksgiving Day last year was a special one for me, I felt so blessed beyond anything I had ever experienced. Learning to know a whole new family God had given me. Never dreaming that would be the one and only Thanksgiving Day he and I would spend together.
So my sweet friends as I look at the reality of the “empty chair” this Holiday Season, I remind my self of the reality that we were not created for this world. You know since my childhood I remember one of the sweet old songs we would sing, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through” and yet so many times I have caught myself with a mentality of living only for the here and now… but not so much recently. This song sung by Steven Curtis Chapman has ministered to my heart so much over the past several months.
Please listen to this beautiful song; Glorious Unfolding: https://youtu.be/GKMjEvF2Fkw
God has placed me here in “Time” for the purpose of choosing Him. He gave me a choice, and I thank Him for drawing me by His Spirit, lifting me out of a horrible pit, and giving me a new song, even a song of praise to Him. He has placed me here to bring glory to His name, and to show forth His praises. So in the midst of deep pain and loss, I choose to praise Him. After all, my life before Christ was a life of fear and misery, and now I have the promise of Eternal life, forever in the presence of the One who created me. I want my focus to be on the world God has created me for, and to be an encouragement to my fellow travelers of “The Way”
So as you look at your own “Table” this year, do you have an empty chair? A loved one who has passed on, a wayward child or maybe just a loved one who is in some other part of the world fulfilling God’s plan for their lives or whatever the case may be, you like me, may find a deep pain, the pain of separation for whatever reason… I pray God comforts you and may we turn our focus on someone else who may be going through similar pain or loss and be a source of encouragement to our fellow travelers of “The Way”
Praying each one of you having read this finds the strength within to lift up your head and look to the Hills from where your help comes from, knowing our help comes only from Him, and although we may find ourselves in the midst of deep disappointments, we can have the full assurance that our Heavenly Father is working ALL things together for our good, and if we could see the whole picture like He does, we would choose His way every time. Much Love to each one…
Journey Of My Heart 