Laura J. Davis

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone had a great time with their families over the holidays. Our Christmas and New Year's was rather subdued. We spent Christmas Day with our kids, Sarah (27) and Andrew (24). The following day we drove to Toronto to spend time with my husband Jim's family. It was bittersweet as we knew it would be our last time with Jim's mom who was dying of pancreatic cancer. She amazed us all with her uncomplaining attitude as she lay on the couch in the livingroom, watching her grandchildren open their last presents from her. We all suspected that Mom was hanging on until she could spend Christmas with us and we were right. On December 30, we got the call that she had gone home to be with the Lord.

In 2009, Jim's dad died December 22,  and while that was hard, today seemed even harder. I'm sure those of you who have lost both parents understand what we are going through. It seems so final. No more going to grandma's house. No more long conversations on the couch. No more card games (she loved to play games). So, a New Year has begun with an empty spot in our family, yet while we mourn her loss we rejoice that she is with her Saviour. We cry tears of joy knowing that she is with her husband of 64 years again. In fact, her 64th wedding anniversary was New Year's Day. We all smiled when we thought about her spending her anniversary in heaven. How great would that be?

As we look at the year before us, it is with the knowledge that our parents are safe in the hands of the Saviour that they loved so much. Both Dad and Mom were shining examples to their children of how one lives a committed life to God. Mom's greatest concern before she died was that we would all see her again. She wanted to make sure each child and grandchild would be safely escorted through the gates of heaven when their time came. She knew we each needed to have a relationship with the Lord Jesus in order for that to happen.  Her dying wish was for all to receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour.

It is also my wish. If you do not know Jesus as your Saviour, may this be the year you realize how much He loves you and wants to have a relationship with you. May 2012 be a year of new beginnings for you. If you know the Lord already, I pray that 2012 will be a year that will draw you closer to your Saviour as He draws closer to you.

God bless you all as you begin a new year full of possibilities!