“We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).
The holidays we hold dear in the presence of loved ones, Thanksgiving and Christmas, will often be overshadowed by the reality that one, or more, of those loved ones is no longer with us.
Faith is often a deep thing within a person’s life. Most likely, with many folk today, it is held and felt more deeply and close to the heart than expressed. Yet, we have this that we know for certain: There is an ever-loving Creator/Savior Who is forever brooding over men’s lives, circumstances and hearts, attempting to draw them to Himself. And, many are they who surrender to His presence than we might know.
I remember numbers of times in all points of my young life, that I would call out to this brooding Presence to be my Rescuer from some crisis. He never failed to rescue, yet I never outwardly shared of the rescue, nor the Rescuer. I had a deep, inner appreciation for the One Who was there.
Still, during the special days that the presence of our loved ones leaves an empty chair, or a missing bit of humor, we ask: “Where is he?” “What is he experiencing this day?”
As we survey the day . . . the foods, décor, even those present, we realize, in this moment of eternity, he has been wonderfully changed. He is in sync with the melodies of glory. He is looking into the face of the Brooding Presence he has known, our LORD Jesus Christ. Those eyes! That smile! And, the eyes of our loved one are wide, and his smile, broad! There’s the everywhere glorious music. And the Throne!
Beloved, the truths of this ought to be enough to brighten our day, planting a peaceful, calming, knowing smile in our hearts, moving to our expressions of, “It’s Ok!”
May your holidays be Merry and Bright! Jerry McCullah and Impact Prayer International
