Appreciate Family this Holiday Season

Oh, how I love the holidays. We are able to celebrate family that we may not get to see as much throughout the year. The aroma of food coming from the kitchen, with Granny and Aunties, stirring pots, making sure everything is cooked to their perfection, while the men gather in another room to watch the famous football games. Young children are running around, playing while adults are on their tails yelling for them to, "Stop that, sit down, don't be too loud." Finally it's time to bless the food. Before dinner is served, nobody eats without family prayer. The television's volume is down, mouths are closed, hands are held, family gather around the table to give God thanks, because as a family we recognize that nothing would be possible without Him. As everybody eats, the doorbell is still ringing with the late comers. The men go back to watching football, while the women vote on which movie to watch. Let’s not forget about the Auntie who's looking for an empty bedroom to catch her a nap, and one who you're sure to hear snoring shortly after the movie is started. And of course dinner just wouldn’t be dinner without sibling rivalry whose argument may take place at any given time. It may result in the two telling each other to, "Shut up," or with a senior relative intervening by simply saying, "That's enough now." Games are played, songs are sung, dancing may take place, and then dinner is over. You have your family that come with their, take home tools, such as bowls with covers, to take as much food home for leftovers as they can resulting in another argument of someone saying, "Leave some for everybody else." Finally, slowly but surely all family leaves with hugs and appreciations for dinner. "Until next time," each may say upon leaving. Oh, the joys of family! But why does it have to be, "Until next time?" Why is it that we only gather to celebrate the holidays? Or we'll find ourselves gathering together to pay our final respects to a loved one that has passed that we hadn't talked to for months when they were alive. We have to do better people. It's important that we show each other love while we are still here. So this holiday season I'm asking that you call family members that you wouldn't normally talk too. Or send a, "Thinking about you," letter to the one that would least expect to hear from you. Let me leave this question with you family and friends, if you received a call in the night saying the one family member that you meant to call or that you weren't speaking to, has taken their final breathe and is no longer with us then how would you feel? Don't let it be that way! Let it be that when you receive that call, you are able to say, "Thank you God, for placing it on my heart to spend time with that person before they left." Let it be that you are at peace when your family member leaves this earthly place because you showed your love and appreciation for that person while they were here. Appreciation does not have to be shown in gift giving, or monetary donations, but it could be simply your time. 1 Timothy 5:8 reads, Anyone who does not provide for their relatives and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever, (NIV). The Bible also reads in 1 John 3:18, Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (NIV). Often times we view our family as our worst enemy but it shouldn't be. Remember to let your light so shine, because family is also our biggest ministry. This holiday season, let us appreciate family!

From my heart to yours!