Christmas is family. However you cut it, it comes out that way. We get each other whether we like it or not. For richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; ’til death do us part … we are family.

Anne flew in from Hawaii early this morning. She has four days off around Christmas and decided to spend it with us. A short stay for a long flight, but we are elated because she brings a spark that lights everything up. It may just be her ADD but it works. It’s just not Christmas without her.

Of course something went wrong and there was no one there to pick her up at 5:30 this morning after an all-night flight. “I love my family,” she said, somewhat facetiously, when I caught her on her cell phone waiting for Uber. And you know, she does.

And we all do too. We all love our family. It just may not be easy sometimes, but scratch the surface far enough to get to the good wood and you will find substance. There we are — dysfunction and all. We all have it. Through disappointment, failure, success and hardship, we are, and will always be family. Our family. God’s family. The Catch family. We’re all here. We all agree. Family is bedrock. And thank God for grace and forgiveness without which none of us could accept one another.

Christmas is family.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.

The most important part of our family!