Christmas is about so many things: relationships, light, music and sharing. This past week I experienced one of the greatest joys of Christmas: time spent with family, friends and loved ones. As an added blessing I had a beautiful glimpse of the joy of reunion in the life of a complete stranger
As I waited my turn in line to board a plane in Comox BC on my way to visit family in Winnipeg, I noted the presence of a young man in military uniform. In itself that's not unusual since the terminal sits next to the Canadian Forces Base 19 Wing Comox. After getting seated just a seat behind him, however, we struck up a conversation. I told him how our eldest granddaughter was in the process of joining the army and he shared his thoughts on the subject. As the conversation progressed I finally swallowed hard and dared to ask, "Have you served time in Afghanistan?" His reply both stunned and moved me to tears.
"I'm on my way home. I've been gone from there less than four days," he told me. What he added but really didn't need to express was his excitement at being back. "Home is Calgary," he continued, the thrill of reunion evident. I stood and watched as he moved quickly through the terminal after disembarking and wished I could have been a fly on the wall. What a reunion that must have been!
The more I thought about that event the more I realized that's what Christmas really is about - God sending His son in order to facilitate the reunion between us, the embattled children of earth, and the heavenly Father who loves us supremely. No wonder it's called a season of joy.
"For God so loved the world that He gave"
Thanks, Paul, and Merry Christmas!
