We'll keep you and your family in prayer, daylia. I remember a Christmas long ago where my oldest sister who was a teenager at the time was in a near-fatal accident and was in the hospital for Christmas. I was about 11 then, and because we wanted to have Christmas with her, we opened our gifts at the hospital early in the day on Christmas Eve. I thought was cool... I was the first kid I knew to open his gifts that early. We spent Christmas "Eve" that afternoon at the hospital. When it finally was Christmas Eve, and my father and mother and my other sister and I were home, it his me real hard. It was Christmas Eve, the excitement and joy of opening presents had passed and the night seemed empty. At 11, Christmas revolves around what you get for presents. Looking back now, I see that the gift is being together.

So, back when I was older, I thought the best gifts were those that were wrapped and tied with ribbons. Now that I am younger, I realize that the best gifts are around us every day. And that's never clearer than it is when they are missing.

Here's wishing that your Father is home for Christmas, and that if he isn't you'll all realize what a gift it is that you are still all together.

Jerry