The gift of presence
By CHERYL CRUCE
I remember when the fresh scent of baked biscuits meant it was time for Daddy to come home from work. As soon as I smelled the fragrance of bread, I began walking down the old dirt road to meet him. Just a short distance from the house, he would stop his 1956 international pick-up and lift me to his lap. Placing my hands on the steering wheel let me believe I was driving us home. Looking back now, I see Daddy’s big arms around my waist and his two thumbs guiding us safely homeward.
There was something surreal about being in the presence of my Dad. I felt safe and comforted as his arms encircled me. I also thought I could accomplish great things, like driving a truck at age five, even though Dad kept his thumbs on the steering wheel. Today, I look back on my childhood innocence and embrace the lesson of presence. Dad was present with each of us. We were the apple of his eye. He was a man of quiet strength who walked humbly before God and instilled faith into the heart of his children.
Amazing how time changes things. Three generations have been born since then. The dirt road is paved, and the stately oak trees have disappeared with the old blue house that used to be home. However, the lesson of “presence” is unchanging and lingers in each of us. We cared for one another, our victories, and our losses. We were present with one another. We were family. We are family now. However, today we live in different homes and are gathered around other tables with much older faces, but a family still.
In this month of thanksgiving, I am grateful for many things; Today, I am thankful for the “lesson of presence.” Did you know the smallest gesture can say, “I am here?” When you smile at a stranger or place a hand on the shoulder of someone grieving, when you lend someone your strength or faith, that is the art of presence. Have you ever received a card in the mail unexpectantly that brightened your day? If so, then you have received the gift of presence. Our Heavenly Father desires His children to be present with one another. I have discovered that I am with family regardless of my travels. There only needs to be an introduction of a name. There is a kinship beyond the biological realms of the physical world. Holy Spirit bears witness within us that we are the children of God, heirs of our Father in Heaven, joint heirs with His Son Jesus (Romans 8:16-17). Therefore, since we are brothers and sisters through Christ, should we not be present with one another?
Today, let us celebrate presence as described in 1 Peter 3:8. Let us become a people of a tender heart, full of sympathy with a humble, unified mind, loving one another with brotherly love. When we love as we were created to love, we will fully understand the gift of presence. In celebrating our presence, we celebrate the presence of our Father, whose greatest desire is to be with His children, for we are indeed the apple of His eye. Today, I am thankful for the “gift of presence” taught by my Dad and endowed by our Heavenly Father. Today, let us safely rest in the presence of our Heavenly Father.
Lord, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. The Lord replied, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:13-14
Cheryl Mixon-Cruce is Pastor of Ochlockonee Bay United Methodist Church and Sopchoppy United Methodist Church.