Family Closeness — by Paula Price

“Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”                      Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)

I remember the Christmas that was supposed to be the first one where everyone in my immediate family would not be home for the holidays. My oldest brother, Mike, was stationed in Vietnam that year, and we feared we would never see him again.

I called home from college to tell my parents my flight schedule. Before hanging up, Mom said, “There’s someone here who wants to speak to you.” All Mike had to say was, “Hi Pea-goober” (my nickname in the family), and I was sobbing. He said I was just like my sister Pat, who had responded in the same way.

I said, “You’re home!” Yes, his commander had told him if he wanted to go home for Christmas, he needed to be on the next plane, leaving in about 45 minutes. Mike threw a few clothes into a bag and ran to the plane. Thank Heaven, we had one more year together! (The fol- lowing year, brother Mike was married and was stationed in Florida.)

Thank you for family closeness. I pray that all families will experience such closeness this year. Amen