It’s the Christmas Season … already.  If you are like me, you are probably asking yourself where this year has gone. It seems the older I get, the quicker the years fly by. And the quicker the years fly by, the more I long for and reminisce about family.

I’m fortunate that both my parents are alive and still doing fairly well physically and mentally as they approach their mid-70s. I know so many others my age that are not as fortunate.

They both are still self-sufficient, drive themselves to doctor appointments and to Walmart and still live very productive lives through service in their church.

I’m blessed.

I’m also very lucky to have two younger brothers who live near my parents  on the Mississippi Coast and can be near them at a moments notice if necessary.

To say our family is tight-knit is an understatement. My family is everything to me and I never take that relationship for granted because I know that is not always the case with a lot of other families.

I have many friends, acquaintances and extended family who have no direct contact with their immediate family and have no desire to reach out.

I find that very sad, especially this time of year.

I just pray that those individuals can mend those fences before it is too late and they no longer have that opportunity.

I’ve always tried to live my life with no regrets, and have not always been successful, but my family knows how I feel about them.

Life does get busy and I may go days without calling to “check in,” but when I do the conversation is always a good one and ends with the words “I love you.”

We have a very special bond and talk on a regular basis, which I hope is the norm among most families.

I can always count on my family to be there for me and they know they can always count on me. Don’t get me wrong, though. Like most families we do have differences at times, but we always seem to work through them.

We are far from the “perfect” family, but there is no other group of people I’d rather be related to than my parents and two younger brothers.

I’m blessed.

But if you or if you know of someone who may be struggling with forgiveness with a family member, keep in mind or remind them that someday they may not get that opportunity to reconcile their differences and will have to live with that regret.

This Christmas Season is the perfect opportunity to mend those fences.

Merry Christmas.

Rob Sigler is managing editor of The Oxford
EAGLE. Contact him at rob.sigler@oxfordeagle.com.