Family Gone but Lingering

We had a lot of Tracey’s family with us last weekend through Wednesday. It was quite an experience to go from a house of 2 to a house of 8! We had a lot of fun together and I even got to have more fun than I usually allow myself! *grin* But one of the most amazing emotional transitions always occurs when some part of our family comes and goes...I feel like I lost something. When I saw their van drive off, this small sadness and emptiness crept into my heart. A place in my heart that was filled by their presence was left empty by their absence. It reminded me that we are all on a journey. Our lives intersect other lives for a short but precious amount of time and then we keep going. I am thankful for the memories and will, Lord willing, see them again fairly soon. But I long for the day when my earthly family and spiritual family will all be in one place forever. The bonds God created us to have will be complete and final and perfect. Absence will be swallowed up by sweet and eternal presence. Come, Lord Jesus!