Lots of us get to visit with family and friends on a regular basis. In most cases, this involves a phone call or arrangements for Sunday dinner, but what happens when family lives far away? These encounters happen less often.
Then there's the issue of culture. In some cases, not only blood relations are included in the realm of 'family' but also good friends who are affectionately or respectfully referred to as aunt and uncle (and I suppose cousin) even though they have no traceable relationship at all.
Yesterday I received an email informing me that a good friend of the family was due to visit in the city just for a day. She was arriving this morning for a series of meetings and visits (business related) and would be leaving again on an afternoon flight, but not before finding just a few moments for a quick hello.
There's great excitement in anticipation of any visit, and sometimes these encounters pass only too quickly, but every one of them, no matter how fleeting, is appreciated because they are moments of joy and blessing, because they are occasions to renew relationships, because they are opportunities to show those from afar even just a glimpse of home.
Before we knew it, she breezed out the door. Before long she'll be winging her way home too. Thanks for the visit. Come again ... you're always welcome.
Then there's the issue of culture. In some cases, not only blood relations are included in the realm of 'family' but also good friends who are affectionately or respectfully referred to as aunt and uncle (and I suppose cousin) even though they have no traceable relationship at all.
Yesterday I received an email informing me that a good friend of the family was due to visit in the city just for a day. She was arriving this morning for a series of meetings and visits (business related) and would be leaving again on an afternoon flight, but not before finding just a few moments for a quick hello.
There's great excitement in anticipation of any visit, and sometimes these encounters pass only too quickly, but every one of them, no matter how fleeting, is appreciated because they are moments of joy and blessing, because they are occasions to renew relationships, because they are opportunities to show those from afar even just a glimpse of home.
Before we knew it, she breezed out the door. Before long she'll be winging her way home too. Thanks for the visit. Come again ... you're always welcome.
No comments:
Post a Comment