It's Time to Have a Party

There is something very special about this time of year. I was looking out the window of the plane tonight as I landed in Atlanta. The view was breathtaking. The trees are colorful and gorgeous.

It’s called the circus of autumn.

But there is something else special about this time of year.


The holiday season is upon us. And I couldn’t help but notice it as I was walking through the airport tonight. It was crowded for sure. But people were smiling and acting differently than you normally see at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

As I came up the long escalator on the way to baggage claim it hit me. There was a huge throng of people waiting on their loved ones coming in from all over the United States. Most had big smiles and people were hugging and laughing. I even saw a few tears.

I actually stopped for a few minutes and watched.

This is the season for family gatherings. It is the time of year we set aside to spend time with the people we love the most.

And that’s why all the smiling and hugging and crying.

As good as that was to see and as excited I was to be coming home, I had mixed emotions. It has happened for the past dozen or so years. On one hand I cannot wait to spend time with my own family. We will have a house full of folks and it will be wonderful.

But on the other hand I cannot go through this season without thinking about those people who were so much a part of my holidays for so many years who are no longer around. I suppose when you get my age you can’t help but think about those kinds of things.

It’s all normal and I realize fully that everyone who has family members who are no longer around experiences those same emotions.

The truth is the result from the mixed emotions is a good thing.

It causes us to hug those people we love just a little tighter. And it causes us all to appreciate each other just a little more.

We don’t know what tomorrow holds. But we have the moment. And the moment is a wonderful time of year.

It’s time to cook the turkey and dressing with all the trimmings. It’s also time to bring out the fine china and to roll out the red carpet.

It’s time for families everywhere to gather together and have a party.

To be thankful for each other and all the blessings of life.

And to be thankful for the memories of those who have gone on before us.