We have just finished our three week stay in America. It has been much more than I imagined. I left Japan thinking it was a time to rest and to take care of green card stuff, but it revealed itself to be more.
It was a time to introduce a Japanese young man to America for the first time and to see develop relationships with godly individuals. He got to spend an Easter Sunday at church and experience the American life for a week.
It was a time to think about the future of ministry and get reconnected. It was a time to get a new vision and motivation for the coming year.
It was a time to meet people from my past and play the game of baseball that I have missed so much.
It was a time to see my daughters run around the house, playing in the pool, chasing the dog, rolling in the dirt, climbing, dancing, singing, and grow in relationship with my family here.
It was a priceless time in so many ways and I am truly grateful for it. I am sad to go back, but I know that there is a season of purpose and potential waiting for us.
Even as I hug my daughter, Anna, under the cool dark sky in the back yard I know it will be hard. I hold her and tell her I love her and say to her, "It has been so fun to watch you run around and be so happy here."
The tears are sometimes hard to hold back...
Goodbyes are always hard and as they come closer I become more aware of reality of separation. May God keep our love ever strong as a family and lead us to a good place. Amen.
