By Brad Campbell –

Just a thought to help start your week.

“It’s beginning to look a lot like…” what?  These days, it’s hard to know if it’s fall, halloween, almost Christmas, hurricane & tornado season, or still summer time playing tricks on us.

The view in this picture is a look down my parents’ driveway.  When I look at this, I see the changing colors of autumn.  I see falling leaves and bare tree limbs.  I see the dirt and the sun shining through the trees.  But I see and hear a lot more than what the picture shows.

I see a loving home.  I see parents who have lovingly supported their children and grandchildren in all their many endeavors through the years.  I hear lots of loud voices full of laughter, excitement, and sometimes music.  I see my mother, who now reminds me very much of my Grandmother, in her kitchen stirring up any number of things.  I hear my father, pastor of fifty-plus years, asking many questions in genuine concern for the welfare of his grandchildren, the youngest of whom are in high school.

I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that there’s more than meets the eye for me when I look at this picture.  For those of us blessed enough to still have our parents or other parental relatives in our lives, I pray you are cherishing every moment.  Yesterday I looked down my driveway at my own house as each of my now-grown kids drove off and back to their respective homes after a cherished weekend with us.  A simple little picture of a simple driveway, but there’s so much more to be seen.

From the words of the Scripture, “Honor your father and mother that your days may be long upon this earth.”  Honor and respect.  That’s what our world needs more of.  And in sharing those two things, we share the love of our Heavenly Father.

As you glance down the driveway of this week, may you see and hear all the beauty that comes from being in the family of God!

Just a thought.