Even If The Reason Is Difficult...

...I appreciate the gathering of longtime friends that feel like family.

One of the benefits of being at one church for over a decade is the reality that you'll do life together. You'll watch former students marry and have children. You'll watch friends' children graduate high school. You'll watch acquaintances get promoted and go through layoffs. You'll see births and deaths and everything that comes in between. It's life. The good stuff. The bad stuff. The in-between stuff.

And the spouse of one of those folks I've known the entire time I've been here passed away Sunday. Too soon if you're asking me. And the memorial service is today.

And lots of folks...

...our church family...

...will get together today to remember her and show the husband and kids (who aren't really kids anymore) how much we care.

It's life together.
The good stuff.
The bad stuff.
The in-between stuff.

And the reason we're gathering isn't "fun." Not at all.

But the reason we're gathering is because we're family. Because we care. Because we...

...well...

...love.

It's what we do.

Even in the bad stuff.

And today, I'm thankful we have each other.