Sometimes out of nowhere I’ll picture her smile and hear her voice like an echo in the back of my mind. Other times I see him light up as he talked about the love for his wife. I hear him happily talking with my boys as he played a game of tic tac toe. Sometimes I’ll picture her with her shy little giggle and an innocence about her that made you believe in gentleness in the world. Other times I see him laughing joyfully as he pranked his wife. These memories are of both sets of my grandparents and they seem to catch me off guard sometimes. Times where I didn’t even know I was thinking of them. Maybe it’s something I have seen or heard that familiarity that brings them back to me from time to time. Maybe its Christmas. Thinking about the loved ones I miss. The ones that when they passed family Christmas parties changed and there’s empty seats where they would have sat. Christmas a joyous time. Although it is also a time that can be difficult. One part beautiful filled with memories and the other part hurt of what is no longer. Although when I think about it, Christmas is another reminder that even in our grief, it isn’t goodbye forever. Just temporary, a see you later. For Christ came in a manger so we can have forgiveness for our sins and when we believe, the hope of heaven someday. And with the hope of heaven is the hope that we will see our loved ones again. So, though we may grieve those who are no longer here at Christmas, Christmas also is a reminder that because of Christ we will see them again. Friend, I miss those whom have passed. I miss my grandparents. I miss them now near Christmastime. Though I know that although their seat is empty now, someday when God calls us all home, I will see them again someday. Except then, it’ll be forever and as I hold onto the memories, I hold even tighter to the hope of forever.

Erin Fitts-Brower

Missed at Christmastime

Romans 8:18 NIV

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NIV

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words.