Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah!

[f6john]

Hoping everyone who has had to travel to be with family and friends has or will arrive safely. My home is now the gathering spot for the major holidays so no travel for me. Just got done peeling the potatoes as that chore fell to me after my Dad pasted 12 years ago. Four generations will be represented at the table this afternoon, from age 94 down to 2 1/2. As with every family quite a few won’t be here due to extended family obligations and some because they are celebrating in a far better place.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are a great time for reflection and thoughtful contemplation about our responsibilities and our place in the world. A thought occurred to me this past week that I don’t dwell on much but is very significant if you are a Christian and even if you are not.

We are eternal beings, created in Gods image. Every person ever born after Adam and Eve still exist even though their physical bodies turned to dust long ago. We get all wrapped up in our development of our lives and our families, the thought of eternity gets push to the background. As long as we draw breath we have the option of determining how we will spend eternity when this body we occupy is no longer able to support life. Once we pass from this place and this body, time will have little importance, but as I understand it now, eternity is a long “time”. It’s worth more than a passing consideration in everyone’s future.

Y’all try not to eat too much, and give everyone a hug from the Smiths!

[..]

[Jess from VA]

I like Norman Rockwell.

[carolinarider09]

Merry Christmas to all.

[Bret SD]

Merry Christmas!!

[h13man]

Merry Christmas from the COLD barren flats of Indiana! The sun is shining, 10 degrees above zero and 10 mph. winds. Smoking 3 whole tenderloins for tomorrow's family gathering. 2 rubbed and 1 rosemary/garlic variant for the the "different" participants.  Going to pick up the Houston grand kid's from the airport tonite @ 11:30 pm. Please be safe everybody and God Bless you.