As we approach the holiday season, we have many things to think about. I need to make sure I have the necessary time off for the trip to get back home. I must start thinking about gifts for my loved ones, which is a real challenge for me. For the Thanksgiving meal, what should I be bringing? Who should I be taking with me? Do I have the proper clothes to wear? And the list goes on.
But, before all of that, let’s take the time to think about something even more worthy of our pondering. Let’s think about the fact that I am still here to be able to enjoy the holiday season again. There are thousands of people that shared in the celebrations last year that will not be gathering with loved ones this year because they are no longer with us on this amazing planet. Where are they? Only God knows. For all of us to be here this year and thinking about the coming holiday season, so many things had to go right. Now, what do I mean by that? Well, let me give you a few examples.
Thousands of drivers had to pay attention and stop at the red lights so that I could go through my intersection without harm. The airline planes had to perform flawlessly, as well as the pilots. The immune system in our bodies had to combat all of the harmful germs that tried to take us down. No person with evil intent approached me on that dark night in the parking lot. My car brakes worked properly when that deer jumped out in front of me. And the list goes on.
It is such an enormous gift for you and I to be alive this year and to be able to plan to see people that we love and care about. We had no written guarantee that we would be here today. As Jesus was telling the story of the rich man making plans for his wealth and the coming season, He said, “This night, thy soul shall be required of thee.” Change of plans.
All of life is a gift; every breath and every heartbeat keeps us functioning in a manner we have come to take for granted. The life wind within us is a gift from the One who called all things into being, and must one day be returned. My mother and father are no longer able to gather with us at the table. They are missed tremendously. They leave a hole in our lives as we celebrate the holidays. And one day, I will leave a hole in the lives of my loved ones.
So, as we ponder the coming gatherings, let us come with a heart of thanksgiving for the fact that I am still here to fill my place in the lives of these wonderful people. The potential stress moments will flee your heart as you give thanks for the supreme gift of just being here…
