I am looking forward to an empty nest. It isn’t that I do not love my children or that I will not miss them. I am simply looking   forward to catching up on life. I look forward to times when there is no one else there except for my wife. It will be a time to ourselves that I hope will be time well spent. I look forward to the days when my children will visit (with grandchildren, I hope!). There will be occasions we visit them as well (to see grandchildren, I hope!). The truth is, even though we will not be living in the same house, we will never be too far from one  another. We belong to each other no matter what.

That is how it is with family. When we become disciples of Jesus Christ, we belong to him. We are family. Our greatest gift to give is our very selves to one another. Jesus gave all of himself to us. Even though he ascended to his Heavenly Father, he remains with us in love and grace, especially in the Holy Eucharist. He has shown us how to love and how to be family. Even when we cannot see him, Jesus remains with us. Hopefully, we can follow in that example and give of ourselves fully and be there for those we love whenever they need us, especially if they need us to watch the grandchildren. (It is a ways away, but I want to plant the seeds now!)

—Tracy Earl Welliver, MTS  ©LPi