The Real Holiday
We walked
into my sister Carol’s house, not knowing what the next few minutes would hold.
Looking around—my nieces and nephews with downcast eyes, my parents softly
crying, my sister’s face registering shock and sadness. I looked at my
brother-in-law Darell, and he gently shook his head.
It began as
a normal Christmas day. My immediate family gathered at our house for a simple
breakfast followed by exchanging of gifts. Shortly before lunch, we headed to
Carol’s house for dinner, games, gifts and our traditional shrimp supper. My
whole family was going to be there except for my brother Marlin’s wife who was
spending Christmas with her family out of state. Everything was fine…until it
wasn’t. Marlin was gone.
Late in the
morning we became aware that none of us had heard from Marlin for a few days.
Though he was very independent and sometimes unpredictable, family was
important to him. We knew he wouldn’t miss Christmas, if possible. When he
didn’t respond to texts or phone calls that Christmas morning, we agreed that
Darell should go to his apartment to check on him. So it was with fearful, churning
emotions that we walked into Carol’s kitchen.
As Darell
shook his head, I knew this would be a Christmas like no other. Marlin was
gone. Sometime in the previous few days, he had passed away from heart failure.
What was going to be a peaceful, noisy, laughter-filled day suddenly changed to
a day of tears, planning, phone calls and decisions.
A lot
changed in a matter of hours. But some things remained. The reason we gather at
holiday time is to give and receive love. That remained true. Love was poured
out upon us through aunts and uncles who came to sit with us, served our meals
and cleaned up, hugged us. Our pastor and the funeral director gently walked us
through decisions that had to be made. We were held tightly in a circle of
love. Later in the day we exchanged gifts, with a renewed awareness of the
fragility of life, our own mortality, and the beauty of family.
This was
certainly NOT a Norman Rockwell holiday! It would not have been the kind of
perfect Christmas day that our world encourages us to expect. There is so much
build up for this. One. Single. Day. We anticipate a holiday without stress,
conflict, sickness, and sadness.
But that
isn’t real life, is it?
However, the
beautiful truth is that we can walk through the holiday—any day—with peace
because we know that we are truly known and truly loved. This is what Jesus
offers his followers. He provides us with abundant life.
That doesn’t mean a holiday season absolutely perfect with happiness and smiles all the time and all of our dreams coming true! Our lives are not a Hallmark movie with a happy ending, all problems solved in two hours. They are much better, richer….filled with God’s love and peace.
That doesn’t mean a holiday season absolutely perfect with happiness and smiles all the time and all of our dreams coming true! Our lives are not a Hallmark movie with a happy ending, all problems solved in two hours. They are much better, richer….filled with God’s love and peace.
May
receiving and sharing HIS love fill our hearts and minds even as we plan meals,
gatherings, give gifts, etc. This is the lasting and true meaning of
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
“Then you
will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its
dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love
beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant
love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing
with the fullness of God!” Ephesians 3:18,19 TPT
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