This year is different. Every year, it seems that we are focused on the topic of thanksgiving about this time of year. I've noticed on my Facebook wall, many of my friends are posting daily items of thanks. That is really great, and I wish I had gotten in on that at the beginning of November, but quite honestly, I didn't want to start something and have it fall by the wayside.
As time moves on, and as we grow older and our children morph into the adults we've taught them to be, traditions change. I wrote a little bit about that last year around Christmas. But this year, it has hit me with a new level of sensitivity. Two years ago when my eldest daughter left home for college, as much as I missed having her around, it didn't really register with me as much. That's likely because my youngest was still home so it was still a lot of the parental responsibility at home to deal with. This past August, though, when my youngest left for college and we are the empty nesters, things got eerily quiet at home. A tank of gasoline would last a lot longer in the car. Going out to eat was a third cheaper than before. We began to adjust to the life of two instead of the life with child(ren) as it had been the previous 20 years.
This year, it has been so incredible to say, "Yes, the girls are coming home for Thanksgiving!" When I got home from my quartet trip this past Sunday evening, Emily had arrived home. Tuesday, she went to West Palm to pick up Abby. Now, they are both home and I'm a happy dad! I've been anticipating this week for quite some time. I think since it's here, I'm going to just kick back and enjoy it!
As life moves on and as children grow up, its true things change. I'm thankful for the way my daughters are growing up and maturing into these incredible young ladies that have Christ at the center of who they are. Since its truth that life changes, I could be no more proud of the way God is at work changing these two young ladies into who He wants them to be. I am confident that what Paul wrote is true in their lives, "...He who began a good work in [them] will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Philippians 1:6 NIV)
I trust that you will be thankful for your children and your family this Thanksgiving season. I certainly have a renewed sense of just what they mean to me.
