Some of her sayings have gained legendary status within the family, such as the time on holiday when, on the way to the airport she said, ‘Follow that plane in the opposite direction!’
Recently she made another instant classic when discussing Christmas presents. ‘And with Sarah,’ she began, ‘we’ll get ankle boots for the horse.’
Visions of a horse prancing about in ankle boots? The boots would be for our daughter when horse-riding, but no-one can put it quite like her mum!
The words I love to hear most is when I come in at night and she says, ‘I’m glad you’re home.’ I usually reply, ‘I’m glad I have a home to come to!’ Sadly many don’t.
This year we’ve been blessed to be able to purchase a house and we’re looking forward to welcoming everyone there at Christmas. As it says on the plaque by the front door, ‘It’s good to be home.’
Knowing He would give His life that all might find a welcome in His Father’s heavenly home, Jesus Christ told the parable of the ‘Prodigal Son’ in which the Father runs to welcome the wanderer and also pleads with the local but ‘distant’ brother so that every seat might be filled at the family table. ( Luke 15 )
As the Apostle John puts it in his first New Testament letter:
'How great is the love that the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!'
( 1 John 3 v 1)
As we prepare to enjoy hospitality this Christmas let’s give thanks to the One Who makes our homecomings possible, and give what we can to help those who in a variety of ways are still lost.