For Thanksgiving we rent a huge cabin in the mountains. We spend five days as a family, playing games, hiking, talking, chasing kids, and of course have a traditional Thanksgiving feast. For Christmas we all come together on Christmas Eve at my parents' home. We talk, share gifts, watch the kids laugh and play with new things, and enjoy a special Christmas meal together. These holidays bring our family together from different cities and states. These holidays are the highlight of the year for our family. These holidays are truly joyous times. These holidays provide a sense that all is right with the world when our family is together.
But as these holidays, and the time for my family to sit down around the table for holiday meals approaches, I have a reality that I have to face. For me there will be an elephant in the room. In my mind there will be two chairs at each of these family meals that will be empty. Chairs that I long to see occupied. Chairs that as long as they are empty, so too will be empty a portion of my heart.
That said, I have so much to be thankful for this holiday season. I am thankful to be a part of a large, loving family, and for each one of them. I am thankful for my wife and especially for my children. I am even thankful for those two empty chairs, knowing that one day they will be filled by two little angels that are truly gifts from God!
