{"id":1375,"date":"2020-12-24T08:32:16","date_gmt":"2020-12-24T13:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/12\/24\/i-know-you-wont-make-home-for-christmas\/"},"modified":"2020-12-24T08:32:16","modified_gmt":"2020-12-24T13:32:16","slug":"i-know-you-wont-make-home-for-christmas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/12\/24\/i-know-you-wont-make-home-for-christmas\/","title":{"rendered":"I know you won\u2019t make home for Christmas."},"content":{"rendered":"\n<pre class=\"wp-block-verse has-text-align-center\">Dear Santa Claus<br>I write to you because <br>I don\u2019t want toys this year<br>I just want my daddy here<br>...<br>But I\u2019m <strong><em>sad<\/em><\/strong> for him now \u2018cause he won\u2019t be home for Christmas<br>...<br>Freedom\u2019s why we\u2019re here<br>Freedom from our fear<br>Isn\u2019t anybody free that lets another be<br>I pray your angels around those who won\u2019t be home for Christmas <br>And everybody will sing the birth of the king<br>Sha la la la<br>Sha la la la <br><br>\u201cWon\u2019t Be Home For Christmas\u201d<br>By: Hootie &amp; The Blowfish <\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>I know you won\u2019t make it home for Christmas daddy but I know you are watching over me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This morning Rico and I had breakfast and sat in the same booth you and I would often sit at. And guess what I drunk? Coffee, yes your favorite. I miss how your mustache would hang over the brim of the cup as you would drink your coffee dark and hot. I would always put so much creamer and sugar in mine until it was caramel brown. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Remember the time I put salt in the coffee instead of sugar? Remember what you said? You said, \u201cI know what you did, I just wanted to see if you were stupid enough to drink it!\u201d Boy did we laugh even though you hurt my feelings- tough love you would say, right daddy??!!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It\u2019s Christmas Eve and it doesn\u2019t feel much like Christmas at all. Medical experts feel in order to slow the spread of COVID that we should have virtual Christmas and stay at home. I sure miss gathering with everyone. I miss the laughter, the food, opening our Christmas presents, I miss the oohhhs and awwws of it all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Most of all I miss you at Christmas dad<\/strong>dy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Though it has been thirteen years you haven\u2019t been home for Christmas I still miss you like you left us yesterday. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Guess what daddy? Rico and I are in the process of buying our first home!!! Well I guess you knew that I saw the R.E.D. bird chirping away in the backyard when we were there. I wish Uncle George was here too because I need someone to build me a front covered porch, a sunroom in the back, and pour a concrete slab in the back so the kids can have a basketball court. I know he would have loved to do it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I can hear him now, \u201ccome here boo boo, now where you want the court and how big you want this or that.\u201d He had so many talents and he probably wouldn\u2019t have charged me much of anything. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Daddy one of your best friends has been on our hearts and prayers. Rev. West hasn\u2019t been feeling his best and then Rev McCray and Mr Fletcher but I know you know all about it. Watch over them daddy like you watch over me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I sure miss you daddy! You\u2019re probably calling me a chump right now because I\u2019m sitting in the kitchen looking back wishing you would come down the stairs. You would have been up at the crack of dawn and would be wiping the tears from my cheeks right now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I wonder what you are doing right now to prepare for Christmas. It is true what they say- there is Christmas in Heaven? Well Faith\u2019s dad came to join you all last week along with Ms. Hammonds mother. We sure miss them too. As a matter of fact so many people have lost so many loved ones lately but I know you all are celebrating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Bible teaches us in 2 Corinthians 5:8 that we are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You made it home along with so many others and we are missing you down here. But I know that my flesh and my heart and going to fail one day, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I knew God is your strength too daddy. The most valuable things that you and mom could have taught us was the Word of God. Thanks daddy! It\u2019s the Word of God that help us process and keep on keeping on in times like this. As I cry it is bringing such healing knowing you don\u2019t have to worry about the coronavirus, the flu, and all this other foolishness here on Earth. I\u2019m crying missing you and you probably crying because of what we are facing. But we both know the God we serve and His plans to prosper us and not to harm us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. <\/p><cite>Romans 14:8<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Daddy I know God is wiping the tears from my eyes right now. I know He is close to all of us who are broken-hearted and He is saving those of us who are crushed in spirit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As I write God is comforting me. I know God\u2019s word in my heart and it is my prayer that He will use my time of mourning to help encourage someone who also is missing their mom, dad, or whomever else. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"754\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_2032.jpg?resize=800%2C754&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1374\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_2032.jpg?resize=1024%2C965&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_2032.jpg?resize=300%2C283&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_2032.jpg?resize=768%2C723&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_2032.jpg?w=1242&amp;ssl=1 1242w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The same way God has given me peace, it is my prayer that He has provided that same peace for those missing someone this Christmas Eve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let them be afraid. <\/p><cite>John 14:27<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>When you passed away daddy, I learned to love God more deeply. I was lost without you; God became my daddy. He filled the emptiness and the void I felt the day you took your last breath. God is my God forever and I thank Him for still guiding me. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u201cTherefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.<\/p><cite>John 16:22<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>When I first started writing to you my heart was so heavy but God has given me peace because I know I will see you again. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-verse\">\ud83c\udfb6 In the morning, the morning,<br>It\u2019ll be all over in the morning. <br><br>Ain\u2019t no need in worrying<br>What the night is going to bring,<br>It\u2019ll be all over in the morning. \ud83c\udfb6 <\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep watching over me daddy this Christmas and beyond. I\u2019ll drink, eat, and be merry as we celebrate the birth of Jesus for we know Jesus is the reason for the season. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And one last thing daddy, Have a very Merry Christmas in Heaven daddy. I love you! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dear Santa ClausI write to you because I don\u2019t want toys this yearI just want my daddy here&#8230;But I\u2019m sad for him now \u2018cause he won\u2019t be home for Christmas&#8230;Freedom\u2019s why we\u2019re hereFreedom from our fearIsn\u2019t anybody free that lets&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/12\/24\/i-know-you-wont-make-home-for-christmas\/\" class=\"readmore\">Read more<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">I know you won\u2019t make home for Christmas.<\/span><span class=\"fa fa-angle-double-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[20],"tags":[87],"class_list":["post-1375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-finding-peace","tag-thischristmas","content-layout-excerpt-thumb"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":2651,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2025\/12\/18\/preparing-for-christmas-without-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":1375,"position":0},"title":"Preparing for Christmas without you.","author":"Whitnee","date":"December 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"\ud83c\udfb6 It's beginning to look a lot like ChristmasEverywhere you goTake a look at the five and ten, it's glistening once againWith candy canes and silver lanes that glowIt's beginning to look a lot like ChristmasToys in every storeBut the prettiest sight to see is the holly that will beOn\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Joy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Joy","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/joy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brown-minimal-cookie-bakery-christmas-opening-hours-instagram-post.png?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brown-minimal-cookie-bakery-christmas-opening-hours-instagram-post.png?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brown-minimal-cookie-bakery-christmas-opening-hours-instagram-post.png?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/brown-minimal-cookie-bakery-christmas-opening-hours-instagram-post.png?fit=960%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1254,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/09\/29\/ill-never-stop-loving-you\/","url_meta":{"origin":1375,"position":1},"title":"I\u2019ll never stop loving you!","author":"Whitnee","date":"September 29, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"It was May of 2007 when I last heard his sweet voice. He asked me to come home and I responded I\u2019ll be home soon. Soon never came. I didn\u2019t make it back home to see him before he transitioned to his Heavenly home. Think he ever forgave me? Yes\u2026","rel":"","context":"With 6 comments","block_context":{"text":"With 6 comments","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/09\/29\/ill-never-stop-loving-you\/#comments"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1493.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1493.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1493.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1493.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/img_1493.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":475,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2019\/12\/27\/bells-will-be-ringing-oh-what-a-christmas-12-27-19\/","url_meta":{"origin":1375,"position":2},"title":"Bells will be ringing, Oh What A Christmas 12.27.19","author":"Whitnee","date":"December 27, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"One article I read was very inspiring! The article was entitled, \u201cThis is our only chance to have a good meal so that\u2019s why we\u2019re here: 34th year of Christmas Feast.\u201d St. Peter\u2019s Catholic Church hosted a feeding of over 1000 homeless and down on their luck residents of Columbia.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Life Issues&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Life Issues","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/life-issues\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":2217,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2022\/12\/12\/lamenting-at-a-blue-christmas\/","url_meta":{"origin":1375,"position":3},"title":"Lamenting at a Blue Christmas.","author":"Whitnee","date":"December 12, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"While sitting in Sunday school the spirit was on the loose! Such rich discussions are always brought up in Sunday school and it is one of many highlights that enhance my Sunday worship experience. Well on this particular Sunday, \u201cout the mouth of a babe\u201d, came the idea of a\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Finding Peace&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Finding Peace","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/peace\/finding-peace\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/e6231666-2067-49e8-8db4-9426dda0a5b8.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/e6231666-2067-49e8-8db4-9426dda0a5b8.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/e6231666-2067-49e8-8db4-9426dda0a5b8.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/e6231666-2067-49e8-8db4-9426dda0a5b8.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/e6231666-2067-49e8-8db4-9426dda0a5b8.png?fit=1200%2C960&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1357,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2020\/12\/17\/im-glad-she-opened-up-her-big-mouth-too\/","url_meta":{"origin":1375,"position":4},"title":"I\u2019m glad she opened up her BIG MOUTH too!","author":"Whitnee","date":"December 17, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"You ever heard of that saying \u201cyour setback could be God\u2019s comeback!\u201d I have a little story to tell you how God came back after a setback in my life. Do you remember me telling you months ago that someone stole the bikes out of my yard? Well if you\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Family Matters&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Family Matters","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/family-matters\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_1986-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_1986-scaled.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_1986-scaled.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_1986-scaled.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_1986-scaled.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/12\/img_1986-scaled.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1507,"url":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/2021\/05\/07\/mask-off-a-letter-to-daddy\/","url_meta":{"origin":1375,"position":5},"title":"Mask off (a letter to daddy)","author":"Whitnee","date":"May 7, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Today marks 14 years that you left us. No matter how many years go by I still miss you like it was yesterday. Over the years I\u2019ve experienced so much but the greatest joy to date is developing that relationship with Christ that you always preached about. You once told\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Listening to God&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Listening to God","link":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/category\/listening-to-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbfCFX-mb","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1375\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/inspirationallaroundme.org\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}