The Extra Chair

Here we are, first day of a brand new year, 2010. We had a really nice Christmas with the family. We were traveling back home to Ohio on the 29th and before we got home, DJ asked, "Next year can we stay until New Years?" That has been our habit in the past and the kids really love spending time with their cousins. But we figured a few days at home before getting back into the regular grind of the rest of the year is a good idea. Barb's getting all the inside Christmas stuff put away and the kids are playing games, snacking, and cooking in the "Easy Bake". I'm flipping between Bowl games and well..writing.
One of the things that seemed to stand out to me this Christmas season was really just a feeling more than anything else. For those of you that grew up going to Sunday school, you'll understand this comparison. {The rest of you heathens will have to take my word for it! LOL!} When we were kids, we would go into our Sunday school classroom and sit around a table. After all the kids were in class the SS teacher would put an extra chair at the table and tell us that the extra chair was put there for Jesus. She would tell us that we should always believe that Jesus was with us in the room and really everywhere we went. As a young child that was both comforting and yet a little freaky. He's watching me, he hears everything I say? But most of the time it was more of a reassuring, calming kind of feeling.
When we gathered for our family Christmas at the Mansfield fire house community room the day after Christmas, I was drawn back to those days of my youth in a Sunday school classroom. Yes, there were a number of empty chairs in the room. Several family members were sick and not able to be there; some not able to travel for a number of reasons, we had some good ole Illinois weather. But I had that calm feeling like there was an empty chair there for someone who should be there and I was comforted by it. That isn't a feeling that I've experienced much this past year when thinking of my brother, Mike. Sure, there has been times that thinking about or talking to one of his kids or Joyce has brought some comfort; but more times than not it's been feelings of missing him, questioning things, and sometimes anger.
But when we were sitting in the community room enjoying each others company, the good meal that many hands prepared and the exchange of silly gifts; I felt a stillness or serenity that hasn't been there much. It was kind of one of those "everythings going to be okay" thoughts. It was very comforting and very much needed. It was like remembering someone patting you on the back for something good you did and saying, "well done, now, let's carry on!" Carry on we must.
So I welcome this new year with open arms. I'm ready for some new challenges, I'm ready to love my family more this year than I did last year, I'm ready to see what good things will come and how some "not-so-good" things will help us stay focused on what matters most. I'm looking forward to a few new adventures and having the refuge of my best friend Barb, by my side. We do make a great team! I wish all of you the best of new years in whatever circumstances you will be facing. Maybe there needs to be someone sitting in the extra seat at your table this year? That's the view from my stand!