How do we as children of God keep up with all the people we know and love and care about in so many different places?

The past week has been a whirlwind of activity, for Kathy and me, and for our family and friends. See if you can follow our activity, our saga for the week.

On Tuesday, May 12, my sister, Martha, and brother-in-law, Mark, drove us from Gainesville, FL, to the Tampa Airport where we boarded a flight to Anchorage.

We arrived home on Wednesday morning at 3:00 a.m. but shared a meal with daughter, Mary, and son, Andrew, and grandchildren, Jackson and Kendall on Wednesday evening.

Thursday, along with Mary, we drove 325 miles to Fairbanks, where we watched grandson, Jacob, play baseball for Palmer High School. We were also joined by our daughter-in-law, Erin, and her brother, Matt, and sister in law, Kirsten, as we cheered for Jake. (The team’s record for 3 games was 1-1-1. It’s a long story!)

Friday, during our time in Fairbanks, we visited with friends, Dan and Cheryl Treakle, and later with Pastor Scott Barkdull.

Saturday, after the last baseball games we drove home to Palmer. In addition, since Jake is graduating from Palmer High on Tuesday, May 20, his dad, Josh, his sisters, Emma and Annie, and his brother, Henry also arrived from Seattle while we were in Fairbanks.

We all worshiped together in our home congregation, St. John Lutheran Church, on Sunday, May 17, along with Mary, and her fiancee’, Brandon. Brandon currently teaches in Kenney Lake, but will be teaching in Wasilla beginning in July.

Then on Monday, our son, Tim, came out from Anchorage and joined the whole family at Senior Night for the Jake’s game with the Palmer Baseball Team. At this game, family also included Erins dad, Pastor Bruce Rowell, her mom, Polly, her sister, Katie, and brothers Matt and Chris and their wives.

So, have I CONFUSED or OVERWHELMED you with all the names of people, and all the places we have been in the last week? I do believe all this activity is a current-day phenomenon. People could not have moved around this much even a century ago. Our interaction with all these people in all these places might also be called a “first-world” issue.

However, the question is, “How do we as children of God keep up with all the people we know and love and care about in so MANY different places?” Yet, did you realize this is not just a modern-day issue? God’s word speaks to that question from past times.

Perhaps you remember Jacob, the grandson of Abraham, and his father-in-law, Laban. Jacob was known as a “deceiver.” Yet, Laban tried to deceive or trick Jacob time and again. After 20 years some resentment arose. So, Jacob took his wives, Laban’s daughters, Leah and Rachel, and traveled toward the land God promised Abraham. Laban pursued Jacob and his group. When he finally caught up with them, Laban and Jacob had a frank discussion. But, in spite of differences, they were all family. Perhaps you remember the monument which Laban and Jacob built. “48 Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." That is why it was called Galeed. 49 It was also called Mizpah, because he said, "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.” (Genesis 31:48-49) They created a pile of stones and formed an agreement, or a covenant, and trusted the Lord to watch over their loved ones, even while separated by distance and time.

We are often separated from family and friends. This separation can cause an ache in our hearts. But God’s children trust the Lord to “keep watch over” our loved ones “when we are away from each other.”

There are many other verses of Scripture which express these emotions of longing for loved ones and also give us promises concerning our Lord and those we care about. Among my favorite such verses are Psalm 121:8. “The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” Comforting – from this time AND forever! Paul wrote to many churches about his concern for them. Among those expressions are his words of Christian love in Philippians 1. “3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:3-6) Paul continues to pray and to care about those in a far-away city. Also, as He departs this world, Jesus promises His presence and blessings, “Surely, I am with you always to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b) And, because of the presence of the crucified and risen Savior, Paul assures the Corinthians of God’s love and blessings. “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (2 Corinthians 13:14)

Modern day life does not have to be rushed, or hurried. Yet we nevertheless live those kind of lives. I confess! I am guilty!! Nevertheless, such busy-ness does not lessen the love we have for our family and our friends. What a blessing to know our Lord takes care of our people, even when we are separated. Someday, because of the death and the rising of Jesus, all believers in God’s Savior will be joined together before the throne of our Savior, FOREVER! "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.”