Scott and I have recently experienced a somewhat life changing event. It’s called “Empty Nest”. The upside to this is that we have 2 extra rooms, or at least I thought we did. Even though the girls are gone some of their stuff remains. Hurry up girls and get your stuff. Your dad wants to set up a slot car track. LOL. The downside is I miss them being around the house. When we do see them it makes this mama very happy.
Through this event I began thinking about my own parents and how they must have felt when the last of us three moved out. Were they saddened? I think so. As the years passed we all got busy with our own personal lives and family. We still had family get-togethers and my mother watched the girls when they were younger while I worked. When the girls were older and able to take care of themselves I found myself slipping away from my parents and not spending as much time with them as I should.
Not only was I becoming a little distant from them, I noticed that I was becoming too busy and distant from God as well. Sure I was still attending church but that was just about it. I was too busy to read my bible and too busy to talk to God unless an emergency or a need arose. It was then that I struck up a conversation and cried HELP!! Once I realized what was happening I began to make some changes.
I started thinking about our Heavenly Father. What does He feel when we become distant from Him? Does He feel saddened when we don’t keep in touch? Does He feel empty? The answer is yes. He longs for His children to stay in touch. Just as I long for my family to check in with me.
If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:6-7 ESV
Our church family cares for us too. I am pretty much guilty of wondering where so and so is, and why I haven’t seen them lately. Sadly that is where I stop. I seldom take the time to visit, text or call them.
Maybe you are thinking right now of your own personal family. Have you lost touch ? Has someone lost touch with you and not checked in lately? Life is hard. Life is busy. We all have a million things going on. Please take time to reconnect. Whether it’s with a family member, friend, or even your Heavenly Father. When God brings someone to mind please check in with them. You may be the perfect person they need at this very moment.
By the way Journey’s Small Groups and The Table are great ways to connect with our church family.
Karen Pollard