Ready. Set. Watch.

We will all make it through.

As we head into the holiday season, here’s your reminder to not always GO… but watch.

That was the message Pastor Steve delivered today at church. There were a lot of messages to follow but as we all head into the holiday season, he reminded us to not always GO….but remember to watch.

I found myself doing that from the very last pew, watching the daughter carefully helping her elderly father back to his seat… and watching the friend lean in to another friend who sat in front of me to say, “We will all make it through.”

I didn’t need to know her friend’s story, her challenges, perhaps her grief… to feel her pain and feel for her.

We will all make it through.

That’s what I should have said to the dad who apologized to me for his young daughter having a moment and slowing us down in the communion line. He turned to me to say sorry and I replied “Don’t you worry, I’ve got three!”

We will all make it through.

That’s what I should have said to my kids when they came home from their dads. They had the best time but creating two places to hang their hats is new for us and re-entry back to Mom’s is new too. In the grand scheme of things, we can work on these things and our story is not a terrible one. And of all the little and big emotions and frustrations and joys running through our home this evening, when cuddling with my twin boys at bedtime, one said… “I wish Grandie was still with us.”

My mom is who he missed in that moment.

Me too, buddy. She sure loved you. I love you. And we will all make it through…. just watch.