A Christmas Appeal

As some of you know/remember, we have relocated from our home state, to one that we have only been to for times of vacation when we visit our kids and their families that live here. It has been part out of necessity because we are getting older, but also part of a desire to be around our family. It will be the first Christmas that we will have been able to spend the holidays with them, in quite a few years. Our daughter and son both met their spouses here and ended up marrying them and beginning their lives here.

I was up early, as I usually am everyday of the year. And I was putting the finishing touches on the gifts of two grandchildren. (I have 4 here, and actually have 9 total) All of my grandchildren are special to me. However, these two particular ones came to us from a different family in which they eventually ended up in foster care. My son and his wife not being able to have their own, adopted them a year ago. For about a year or so, they have began to see what having real holiday celebrations are like. 

And I am glad that this year, I am able to be a part and share in it with them as well as my daughter and her family too. 

And yet, when I was working on their gifts this morning, my thoughts went to the three grandchildren that I left behind when we moved. If I was still there living there, I would  be doing this kind of thing for them. And I have to say, , it made the tears flow. 

Why? Because, their dad is not speaking to my husband and myself. In fact, he has not spoken to us for at least two years. He (their dad) has cut us off from most of our contact with the boys. And it has been very hard for me because I love them so deeply that is has almost been like a death of someone I love so much that I grieve for them often. I am allowed email contact from them and a occasional video chat. And I can send gifts.

My appeal to any of you that are separated from any of your loved ones is to please forgive them and try to restore your relationships for those that have hurt you, or that you have hurt. 

We all make mistakes. I have made many. More then I have even realized. I guess we hurt people sometimes without even knowing it. And we should be able to say we are sorry if we have.

Jesus was born to save us from our sin. But he also came to set the captives free. When we allow ourselves to be bound up by forgiveness and hate, we are not free. We are allowing ourselves to be held hostage or to hold hostage those people that we have those we have hurt or been hurt by. 

I know. It is not easy. Especially when the other party does not want to have anything to do with us. We can only do so much ourselves. But even when we do what we can do, that can unlock much of the burden that we do have. And in the mean time, we can pray for God to restore our relationships in his time and in his way.  And trust him that he knows best. There may be something that we are to learn from what we have been through. Or for the other  person too. We don't have the big picture, as God does.

My greatest gift I could receive this year, would be a call from my son and his family wishing me a Merry Christmas even if there are no "I am sorry" from my son. Just hearing his voice again would be the ultimate gift and is something that I long for. The tears would flow, but they would be happy ones.

Please. Please. If there is someone in your life that you have not spoken to for whatever reason, please give them a call this Christmas Day. They may be sitting on the other end of their phone, waiting for you. Believe me. I know.

And remember, Christ forgave us first. Do we have the right to withhold it from others?  And yet sadly, sometimes we do.

Tips for a stress free Christmas:

If you have children or just have a big crowd coming over tomorrow, get to bed early. You will probably need it. I hear ya out there, duh. lol)

May God continue to bless you today and always!