Monday, October 27, 2008

Forever more!

Today’s Reading: John 17:1 (NIV)

1 After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

Good morning!

Reunions are truly special. I spent time this weekend with some of my favorite people in this world. My mother stayed with us all weekend. Aunt Margaret and Cousin Brad joined us in St. Charles on Friday night, traveling all the way from Rockford, Illinois. We ate pot roast and drank coffee and enjoyed catching up on all the news. Early Saturday morning, Mel and Barb, and Phyllis and Joe joined us for breakfast at the parsonage. Phyllis and Joe are visiting from Alaska, and they will return home this week to Wasilla, their beautiful home nestled on the side of a mountain. We look forward to visiting with them around their kitchen table and enjoying their view real soon. Our daughter Rachel, son-in-law Dave, and grandchildren Joshua, Emily and Andrew joined us for breakfast. We prepared a virtual feast for fourteen! There were homemade pancakes, bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls, and designer donuts to share. Sister Pam arrived Saturday afternoon from southeast Missouri. She spent the night and made mouth-watering jambalaya for dinner, a Cajun treat! Jeff, Brad and I attended the Mizzou football game in Columbia, Missouri, where we caught up with our cousin Roger, who was in town visiting his dad from Pueblo, Colorado. On Sunday after church, Jeff’s parents stopped by to have lunch with all of us. There is simply nothing like the love of friends and family, and time spent together in sweet reunion. We are born for relationship. This is my family; the people who have invested their love in my life. How do you say thank you to the people who love and pray for you throughout your life’s journey?

At church on Sunday, I was proud to introduce my Aunt, who is also my Godmother, to my Pastor and Faith friends. She is a second mother to me, and has been there all these years. How I adore her! I don’t get to see my dear Aunt Margaret as often as I would like; and yet, having her there with me in worship was a precious moment I will treasure forever more.

Jesus knew the time had come for Him to return to His Father, whom He had served faithfully on earth. His home going was just around the corner, when He would fulfill His life’s purpose on earth. The best of who Jesus is and all He would become is completed in the loving arms of the Father. Christ’s soul desire was to glorify the Father, as the Father glorifies His Son forever more. Jesus told His disciples that He is who He is simply because of His Father’s love for Him.

As we sat around the kitchen table, I was reminded of a phrase I had heard frequently as a child. My aunts and grandmother said these words often, as we worked at my grandmother’s table, rolling pie dough and making biscuits and sharing life stories together. Someone would say something, and my aunt would finish their sentence with a precious exclamation, “Forever more!” I heard these words repeated over and over again as we gathered together this weekend. I realized that forever more is only a moment away.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

No comments: