Keeping all this in mind, I did enjoy my family, but sadly, I had to tell my baby brother goodbye today. Actually, he isn't a baby anymore. He stands at 6'2, has a scruffy beard, works for a very lucrative company and sometimes forgets that I am Big Sister! He is my oldest and dearest friend- there is no other like him in my life. He saw me when I was desperately trying to be someone I wasn't. He loved me in my wrecklessness and I loved him in his. We have a strong love bond, as I suppose most siblings have- yet I am continually thankful that our friendship and love goes beyond DNA or experiences- we both love Jesus too. In only one short year, my brother has truly blossomed into a dynamic Jesus follower. What a difficult time he gave us all in College! The choices he made and some of the friends he kept- only the power of God and lots of prayer is responsible for the beauty and success that has finally developed within his life! We are both the products of a praying family!
This past Christmas, and every time I am with my brother, I relish in our time together- laughing, talking, teaching each other about God... It's a special time that I never want to end. It gave me such a happiness to accidently run in on his quiet time with Jesus. In between the jokes and the pranks that he is so famous for, there were many instances where he would walk away from the clatter to find a quiet room and open his Bible to be alone with The Lord! His life is a wonderful testimony of what God can do, and has done in this family.
This morning, as what always happens, I got a lump in my throat at the fact that he would once again get on that plane, fly back to Texas and leave me behind. Even now, I am chocking back tears, because- just being honest- I don't always like the idea that others get all his time or that I can't just drive over to see him. I sometimes feel as if I'm missing out because we are not physically together. So, this morning, while my heart was flooding and my eyes were burning, a very true and sweet thought came to me- Ben will come back soon.
In our walks with Jesus, do we gather peace from the fact that Jesus is coming back soon? Are we anticipating the return of our Savior? Do we long for the day that we will have the opportunity to talk with him, physically, and spend quality time with him- face to face? The tragedy of our society is that, although associated with the term "Christian", our culture soon forgets about Jesus, much as they soon forget about the lights on the trees. But the story of Jesus doesn't end in the manger and it doesn't end on the cross, either! That sweet baby that angels sang about grew up! He became a man. He loved the wreckless, He helped the broken, He challenged the hypocrites and He died for us all- yet He still lives on, by the tremendously powerful love of God, who raised Him from the dead so that our sins could be wiped clean. It is this Jesus who has given His word to us that He will come back soon! The Angels also supported this truth when they reminded the disciples at the ascension of Christ:
"They were looking intently up into the sky as He was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
- Acts 1:10-11
Our hope for Jesus goes beyond day to day, or year to year. The peace and joy and love that is attempted to be celebrated during the Christmas season can be a regular truth in our lives when we put our trust in Jesus- anxiously waiting for His return while living a life that will make Him proud to come back for us!
In three weeks, Ben will come back with a special friend of his, whom I am so excited to meet! We will laugh and talk and hug and get Starbucks coffee, as we always do. He and his friend will join my husband and I and some mutual friends for more laughs and talks and fun. I will tell him that I missed him and he will tell me the same. I look forward to that, when all the puzzle pieces of my life will be back together again, at least for a little while.
Seeing Ben get on that plane to leave is painful, but knowing that he will soon board another plane to return makes me glad and helps put Christ's return in a new perspective for me... I want to live a life that is anticipating the return of Jesus, as well! I want to keep my heart and my eyes waiting for the day that He comes back for me and for you, too! Out of all the celebrations and all of the homecomings, His will be the most spectacular and, unfortunately, the most terrifying return ever known to man. Only He won't be returning on a plane, but in the clouds! I want to be in the crowd who is ready and excited to see Jesus and His return, don't you?
Seeing Ben get on that plane to leave is painful, but knowing that he will soon board another plane to return makes me glad and helps put Christ's return in a new perspective for me... I want to live a life that is anticipating the return of Jesus, as well! I want to keep my heart and my eyes waiting for the day that He comes back for me and for you, too! Out of all the celebrations and all of the homecomings, His will be the most spectacular and, unfortunately, the most terrifying return ever known to man. Only He won't be returning on a plane, but in the clouds! I want to be in the crowd who is ready and excited to see Jesus and His return, don't you?
Get ready, girls. Jesus will be back soon!
~Pearls
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