Everywhere

How appropriate. At the Cross. Christmas Eve.

Christmas represents the time when we celebrate the birth of Jesus, but the Cross...that is the reason He came to earth in the first place.

He lived, so He could die.

Those words. They seem to mean things in a different way today.

As an adult, you lose a parent and that is really tough, especially if you remained in close relationships as you transition from child to teen to college student to adult.  It is never easy.  My dad lived to the ripe old age of 90. He was ready to go - oh. so. ready.   I stayed aggravated with him a lot because I though that he needed to keep living until he died, where he kind of sat around and waited.

I wonder now if he was teaching me that there were things to learn during the wait.

Roger really did live until he died. He was not passive in any way. He served someone, and often many, every day of his life.

I purchased these stones back in the summer and the installation took place in the fall.  We have this 'family stone' over in the Magic Kingdom, but that is where we had fun, not where we centered our lives. I though it a grand idea to have a few memorial stones located where life was most important to us. Yes, they are located at our church, but even more than that, they are located at the foot of the Cross.

That 200 foot Cross, right off of 408. Illuminated at night - beginning as dusk arrives and shining through the night with it's soft, comforting light. I loved seeing it on my drive home from Oviedo.

No matter what kind of day I might have had, it reminded me to be sure to end the day thanking God for opportunities, challenges and for the people whose paths crossed mine.

After the Christmas Eve service, we took a family walk over to the Cross. It was special to have a time to be very thankful for the life that God gave us in Roger.  He was an amazing friend, a mentor to many, he could coach anyone through about any situation if they wanted to be coached and challenged. We had a wonderful 42 years together.  We laughed and played and worked together for things that were meaningful. Our girls are probably the most amazing blessing that God ever sent our way. And the family grew and the blessings grew.

And that does not mean that life was not without its challenges, but without challenges - and God by your side to get you through them - how in the world do you ever appreciate the really wonderful times and the blessings?

Roger's Lesson: Few things on this side of eternity are worth the worry and stress.  Keep your eye on the prize. Eternity is longer, so be sure you invest your time well and decide early where you want to spend eternity. 

Yes, early.
Because as we all know, just because a parent lived to be 90, it does not mean that you will.
Don't put off until tomorrow the decisions you should make today.

Thanks Sweetie for the reminders that are everywhere.