Day 42

Day 42 brings with it some pretty deep emotions.

My family from Illinois is coming to visit tomorrow!  We're talking my mom, sisters, brother-in-law, nephews and niece...all coming for one whole week to visit us!

My excitement is almost overwhelming!  I can't wait to show them our home, take them into the city, to the beach, the malls, zoos, and other places that we have enjoyed throughout the past 42 days!  I imagine all of us siting out on the deck at night and laughing the night away.  That is what we tend to do.  We have fun, and we have a lot of it!

My sadness is overwhelming, too.  Yes, that sounds absurd; however, I am having flashbacks to our move.  I was dreading the goodbyes.  How do we even say it?  How do we utter the words? 

My dilemma is this:  How do I enjoy the time with my family and not dread the goodbyes?

I love my family.  I love them so much that the "goodbyes" literally hurt.  They hurt me physically and mentally.  I'm not good at saying, "goodbye."

I sought the help of a counselor right before our move.  I needed him to help me with the "goodbyes." 

He was full of excellent advice.  He explained to me that I live in the past and future, but I stay out of the present.  I ignore it.  I don't enjoy it.  I spend time thinking about things the past.  I think about things I enjoyed, things that hurt me and I want to avoid in the future, and things that I fear in the future. 

It's obvious what I was doing wrong. 

I wasn't enjoying the present.  I wasn't cherishing it.  I wasn't savoring it.  Instead, I was bogged down my issues of the past, and things I was afraid of that coud "possibly" happen in the future.  What about the present?  What was I to do with that?

My counselor's advice?  Live in the present!  Cherish every moment. 

There is no point to live in the past.  We are supposed to learn from our past mistakes and think fondly on our past joys and acccomplishments.  What are we to do with our past mistakes and failures?  Forget about it!  Everyone makes mistakes!  God's grace covers all of them.  The Lord completely forgets them when we sincerely ask Him to.  So, we must forget about them as well.

We certainly aren't supposed to live in the future!  We have no idea what the future holds.  I have learned, over and over again, that most of the things we worry about don't ever actually happen.  So, why worry?  Obviously, worrying about certain issues is healthy and warranted; however, worrying about things that are completely out of our control is a waste of precious time.

I love my family.  I look so forward to seeing them come, and I dread seeing them go.  They bring me such pride and unspeakable joy.  They are my "comfort zone."  They are my past, present, and future.  They love me. No matter what...they love me and I love them.

They arrive tomorrow.  Their flight is scheduled to arrive at 6:29PM.  I have to take the advice of my wise counselor. 

I will embrace them and every second I spend with them. I will cherish every laugh we share and every tear we shed.  I will make incredible memories with them, and then, I WILL see them again the next time. 
There is no reason to feel any sort of dread or despair.  Those words don't even mesh with the word, "family." 
Family is love, peace, joy, memories, trust and loyalty. 

I will not allow myself to live in the past of the future.  It will only be "present living" for me! 
I am thrilled that they are visiting.  I will not waste one single second moping around simply because I am worried that a week will go by too quickly. 
So what?

Yes, a week is short; however, I get a fabulous week with my family, and that is more than some people ever get.  My family will be here with me having a memorable time.  Some people could only hope for that.

I don't have to hope.  I have it.  I am blessed to know what true love feels like. 

I could live on Jupiter or Mars, and I would still feel the warmth and compassion of my family. 

I'll be waiting for them, at 6:29PM with the biggest smile on my face.  I will hug them so tightly that it will hurt.  I won't rush time.  I refuse to do it.  I wll be calm and focused and at peace.  I'll embrace every second, enjoy every minute, and remember every hour.  God blessed me with these incredible people.  My sisters:  They have my back!  They are built-in best friends.  They have been my best friends for thirty years.  I look forward to many, many more. 
My parents:  They adore me.  They raised me to be the woman I am today.  They have cried over me, prayed over me, and laughed and cried with me.  I am a precious gift to them.

If I lived a million miles away, it wouldn't matter.  Distance isn't the issue.  Devotion IS the issue. If you are devoted to an individual, it doesn't matter if they live a mile away, or 600 miles away.  Love conquers all...including distance. 

This week is going to ROCK!  Our abs will be sore from laughing so hard.  It'll be easy.  It'll be pure joy.  It'll be a true gift.

I will be embracing the present...that is the gift!  I'll cherish every second, every laugh and every adventure.

God blessed me with this family.  We are so full of love, and love knows no boundaries. 
Next Sunday will come, and I will not be sad.
I'll be thankful for all the memories that were made during their visit.

When they are boarding the plane to go back to Illinois, I'll smile and say, "See ya soon!'

Oh Lord, thank you for my family.