I spent nearly 20 years of my life in that home. I have many precious memories within those walls. But today, it just felt like an empty vessel.
I remember Christmas morning, when mom would curl up on the chair with her coffee mug while my sisters and I cuddled with dad as we listened to the Christmas story.
That won't be happening this year.
I remember waking up in the morning to find mom and dad hugging in the kitchen. I would squeeze in between them and make a "Chelsea sandwich" before Dad headed off to work.
Now I'm sandwiched between them in a different way.
I remember the looks they used to give each other, the laughs, the kisses, the terms of endearment. They are oh-so-vivid in my memory, but apparently, not in theirs.
My heart aches for them right now. And more than anything, I desire for God to bring them back together. Tonight, I kneel before the God whose love and desire for restoration far surpasses mine, and I pray this prayer for my parents...
For this reason I kneel before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
