I am back from sabbatical and praying that most of our people can be with us this weekend. No matter how large the clan, family dinners aren’t the same when even one person is missing.
Together, Jamie and I have a family the size of many small countries. Jamie is the 7th of 7 (a Limbaugh). I’m the second of 6.
Jamie’s people are prolific. At any given time, multiple babies are on the way. Even last week we welcomed Owen into the world. Owen lives in New York city, goes to Redeemer Presbyterian (or will begin attending shortly).
Owen living in New York points to a challenge. It becomes increasingly difficult for everyone to make Christmas dinner. Space isn’t so much the problem as we moved to a hotel a number of years ago. The challenge is that people are scattered from Dan to Beersheba, as it were. So far Jamie’s siblings have all made every Christmas dinner. But, we now accept that the grandchildren (who are having their own children) can’t make it every Christmas.
But, that doesn’t mean it is easy. If someone is missing from a Christmas dinner, then you can count on the fact that multiple times throughout the day, he or she will be missed. And, this is as it should be. Families dinners aren’t the same without you.
I pray that you will be with your church family this weekend. Greet people at the door like you are arriving at Christmas dinner. I understand there are legitimate reasons to miss church. But, if even one person is gone, let’s miss him or her.
ABSOLUTELY!! A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO PAM & I MADE IT BACK TO NE IOWA AND HAD A WEEKEND CELEBRATION WITH MY BROTHERS AND SISTER. THE FIVE OF US HAD NOT BEEN IN THE SAME SPOT AT THE SAME TIME SINCE MY MOTHER PASS AWAY TWELVE YEARS AGO.
THE GOOD BYE’S ON SUNDAY EVENING WERE VERY EMOTIONAL. THE SUNDAY EVENING MEAL WITH EVERYONE AROUND THE DINING TABLE WAS A BLAST. SOMETIMES YOU TEND TO FORGET WHAT YOU MISSING UNTIL YOUR REMINDED OF WHAT YOU HAVE.
Nice post. I understand your overall intent, but it got me excited for Thanksmas dinner. We will definitely be there.
Wyn, it was the same thing for me. Seeing everyone is such a blessing. I can’t fathom how great the marriage supper of the lamb will be.
Steve and I were set to leave Iowa right after church(where the 4″boys” ushered..priceless) a couple of weeks ago. We were persuaded, with some tears from an in law involved here, to stay for a family dinner. We were so blessed to have all present, minus on spouse who past away several years ago. So what…we got home at midnight. We would have been sorely missed. It was wonderful!!!