As I set here,listening to Alabama Christmas, its much different than even a year ago. I look out the window, the sun is brightly shining. Rather than several inches of snow coming down, its sunny.We are not having a Christmas program shut down for second Sunday in a row, We will be presenting our third evening of Journey to Bethlehem. Something about the songs I am listening to reminds me of good times with friends and family in times past. This music takes me back to when I was a child. About 13 years ago, I was very homesick. A brother preached a sermon on the Joy of Christmas. He said you may not get what you want for Christmas. You may not have money or means to get or do what you want. But don't loose the joy to be found in Christmas. I realized I needed to give God my homesickness. I need to gift the baby Jesus with what I was troubled by. I needed Jesus take my burden to be able to find that Joy. As I surrendered that heartache, I discovered a joy that replaced the homesickness.
Since then, I have had to say good bye to many. Sometimes just for short times,sometimes as I watch them cross over to their eternal home. I knew I would see them again. Sometimes, I have had to say good bye but yet knowing a phone call or card is there to give and receive.
I can look back and see how each person that I have crossed my life have left their fingerprints on me. People who will have forever changed me. Friendships that remain a part of me. Those friends, that you pick up the phone,its like your just across town. And nothing has changed.... The love and memories are still there. The concern for each other is still there.