Somebody’s Gone

Church/Local

Somebody’s Gone

By Clayton Adams My favorite gospel group is The Blind Boys of Alabama, their music speaks to my heart and encourages me. One of my favorite songs is titled “Somebody's Gone.”

My wife Laurie, writes daily and weekly devotionals on her blog spot 'Women Taking A Stand' at www.womentakingastand. blogspot.com and for 'Laced With Grace' at www.lacedwithgrace.com.

One of her most difficult experiences in life was when her mother died.

Getting through the first Christmas was very difficult for her.

Laurie wrote, “At Christmas, there was an empty chair. Even though Mom had left this worldly place for her eternal home only two summers past, Christmas without her is lonely and … empty!

I caught myself shopping for that special gift to send Mom last Christmas. And when I printed off the family Christmas address labels, I had to skip over her name.

Not being able to buy her a gift and not being able to address a card was bad enough, but then there was that empty feeling each day that I went to the mailbox and there was no card from her.

That first year without her just seemed so empty.

Seemed like I was just going through the motions with no emotion. Everyone said it was to be expected but even though there was that empty seat at the table, no one seemed to want to talk about it.

The question just seemed to linger in the air, until finally someone was brave enough to ask: “Are we missing someone?”

Well, there did seem to be one too many place settings. And then there was that “empty” chair. As I thought about the missing Christmas card and the present that I wanted to buy but was still at the store and as I looked at the empty seat I began to remember the Christmases past.

I remember the year that when I was just 5 or 6 years old, Mom had “Santa” show up with our presents. And then there was the year that we didn't have much money because my step dad had been laid off, but somehow I still got the stereo that I wanted and a mood ring! (anyone remember the mood rings?) Suddenly, the empty chair turned my mourning into a sacrifice of praise. In the midst of my sadness and missing my Mom, I realized that there was a reason for joy and love on that Christmas Day…“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

(Isaiah 9:6) Even though we mourn our loss or suffer in our difficult situations, remember that Christmas is a time that we celebrate the birth of Immanuel, which means “God with us.” The New Year is another opportunity to know Immanuel goes with us into the future even if we have left someone behind in this past year.”

We wish we could tell you that it gets easier the second time around, but the emptiness still remains.

Yet, somehow this year, the peace and joy that only comes from knowing that Christ is in control fills that seat that once belonged to Mom.

Perhaps you find yourself hurting this New Year, We pray that you will stand upon the promise of the Lord that He causes ALL things “to work together for good” (Romans 8:28) and seek His peace.

Perhaps you will be able to sing with the Blind Boys their popular and blessed song, “Look Where He Brought Me From.”

A New Year begins, somebody's gone and there is an empty chair. Perhaps the greatest good to be thankful for is the life we shared with the one who is gone. Allow the good memories to flood your mind. It may be a sound, a smell, something that you see — whatever triggers the memory, let it overwhelm and bring you peace and joy. Carry the memory into the New Year and the chair won't feel so empty.

Clayton Adams is pastor at Earle First Assembly of God. You can e- mail him at cpalaa@ yahoo. com, or find Earle First Assembly on Facebook.

‘AWord from the Pastor’