by Dr. Randy Tompkins
When I was in the fourth grade, we lived in a small community just outside of Tulsa, Oklahoma. We lived in a rental house, but it was a great place to be. It was a two-storied house and sat at the edge of 10 acres of lawn that was covered with trees. I loved that house.
When Christmas arrived that year, my Mother’s sisters and their families all came to our house to celebrate the season. All my cousins from this clan were boys, so we had a great time playing outside. The day after Christmas, we woke up to 10 inches of snow that had fallen during the night. The clan packed the cars and started homeward. They traveled less than half a mile and found the roads closed, so they came back.
Every morning, for the next week, they would pack up and head out only to return in a very short time. Each day, they could only go an extra mile or two. Finally, on New Year’s Eve, they were able to make it home to Texas.
As a young boy, I really enjoyed having my cousins around to play with – for the first few days. Then, they began to get on my nerves. I was glad they came and glad they left so I could get back to my routine.
In the many, many years since that event, I have recalled those days fondly. I realized I shouldn’t have been upset with the interruption of my schedule. In fact, I relish that Christmas/New Year’s time as I think about it today.
As we welcome a new year and put aside a very difficult 2020, we might do well to look past all of the hardships and inconveniences we had to endure in the past twelve months.
It might even be good to reflect on those rare and wonderful times we had with family and friends. Some of us might even find time to pick up the phone and make a call or two.
In Christ’s Service,
Dr. Randy Tompkins
Interim Senior Adult Minister
Calvary Baptist Church
Visit our Website: https://calvarynet.net/
