I almost sent my Christmas cards this year, then I remembered.
Steeped in a darkness so thick, so foggy, I could not breathe.
The Christmas everyone else celebrated, I mourned.
Loss of youth.
Loss of health.
Loss of innocence.
My first Christmas draining toxic liquid from my body post-surgery. Replacing gauze. Staring in the mirror at a ghastly sight. Fa-la-la-insert questionable mourning language here.
I listened to friends grumble of the hustle and bustle and thought, Oh, if only, I’d do anything for that to be my concern-meet-complaint. If only.
If only…
I could have my old life back.
I didn’t feel this striking pain.
My illusions hadn’t shattered.
I didn’t know it could hurt this bad.
I could push Christmas another few months, another year.
Maybe for you, this Christmas (and Thanksgiving) season is a season of joy. Present-filled. Giggling children. Cookie parties. Buying stocking stuffers. Wrangling the big sale.
Oh, for the joy, for the celebration. Truly, I throw a dance party for you.
But before you forget. I must remind you, ever so gently, that not everyone feels this way.
Some of the single moms in your life are struggling to buy gifts for their kids.
Some of the widows are struggling to pass through their first (or another) Christmas alone.
Some of the of those from broken homes struggle to know how to celebrate.
Some of those with babies who didn’t make it. sigh This was their Christmas.
The stingy ache.
The hidden tears.
The deep loneliness.
They dread and fear and weep in hidden silence.
But you, sweet you, can be the one who reaches out. The one who breaks the silence. The one who enters their pain. The one who ushers….
CHRIST-A-LUH-YAH!
Yes, you are the one who proclaims: Christ-a-luh-yah!
How?
By pausing before you send the Christmas wishes.
STOP. DROP. PRAY.
Pray hard. Fervent. Passionate.
When I did, I found two names: Liz and Kelz.
I heard the Lord whisper, “These are your two.”
For them, we will slip in cash, instructing them to surprise their kiddos with extra joy.
My hunch is that if you pause over your list, you will find two names, maybe more, to shower the love of God in and through. You will find two names in which to proclaim, “The kingdom of God is here, now.”
They may be widows or widowers… and if they are, speak the name of their precious spouse.
They may be empty wombers… and if they are, speak words of hope and life and promise.
They may be unemployed… and if they are, speak generosity into their lives.
They may be divorced… and if they are, speak words of friendship and love.
This year, my friends, is not a year of generic letters, but a year of love.
May we celebrate this Christmas as the family of God… Find your two… and love them deep.
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Great reminder – Thank you very much . Merry Christmas to you and yours.
God’s Grace ,
Leslie
Hugs!
Wonderful reminder.
Love and prayers.
Thank you, Louis. Grateful it resonated with you!
Likewise, thank you for the reminder.
Hugs!
Beautiful post. I will be pulling out my Christmas Card list with a different eye this year. Thank you for sharing
Oh, Margaret, I’ve experienced both kinds of Christmas. My oldest son was born Dec. 2, and died 4 years and 4 months later of a long, protracted debilitating illness. It was probably 10 years before I could experience a “happy, merry” Christmas. And after my bilateral mastectomies, I hurt for 2 years. But I’m past that now and flourishing! I’m going to pick my two names and enjoy this Christmas like no other! Thanks for the Challenge.
Thank you for caring for others during this season! Hugs!
Margaret, thank you so much for the reminder. Six Christmases ago I sat in bed with my two adult daughters snuggling with me as I recovered from my mastectomy. My prognosis was good, but, you remind me the journey is not always smooth. You have encouraged my daughters and I to pray for names to love this holiday. Thank you…
What a joy to have family to walk through life’s uncertainties with. Praying blessings on you as you and your girls seek to be a blessing to others!
This is so true. I just lost my mom in October and my dad in 2011. They gave me wonderful Christmas memories so it’s hard not to think of them during the holidays. My mom loved Christmas. This will be my first one without her. I really hadn’t thought that much ahead until I walked into the Christmas department at a store just a few days ago. I had to turn around and walk out. I will celebrate but to be honest, I will put on a happy face for my children and family. This one is going to be hard. I am so thankful for the time I had with them and I am leaning heavily into the reason for the season. I still have joy.
Huge hug to you, Nikki! I pray that your family surrounds you with love this Christmas as you navigate it and the emotions that come with it. May this season still hold joy for you!
You are precious, Margaret. Love how God works through you with a pen, that moves our hearts to be more loving and generous on this journey. Watching to see where God is leading us to share a blessing with those around us this season! 🙂
Thank you, sweet Rhonda! I’m excited for what God may do through you. Hugs!
Thank you Margaret! Our Flourish online study group is doing the section “Prepared for Drought”. As the facilitator I was a mess. Didn’t want to do this week at all and procrastinated and ask God for a “Plan B”. Our pursuing God kept at me in spite of me burying my head in the sand for 3 days and on the 4 th reading of the Prepared for Drought section I was struck by what the wandering is NOT.
It is NOT
What does the wilderness do to me?
BUT
What is the wilderness doing with me?
Your post came at the perfect time because a part of my journey is all about focusing on others and letting God lead as he works with me. Believing always that He has the MORE In mind for myself and those around me.
Grateful to hear your heart and a piece of your journey, Karen. May God continue to sustain you and meet you in the times when He is most needed. Hugs!
Dear Margaret you are so special to our Lord and I thank you for your divine message. I live at home with my family and am caring for my husband who is terminally ill with Parkinson’s/MSA since last June.
Our Christmas will be sad yet I feel blessed by our Lord. John loved Christmas, so we will sit around his bed laugh and enjoy memories of Christmas’ past.
Blessings, Margaret x
Huge hug, Margaret! Praying this season continues to hold joy & new memories despite the current conditions.
Dreading the “happy, happy, happy” and “oh, everything’s so wonderful” canned Christmas Letters this year — but also eagerly awaiting news of the fun events in my friends’ lives. The “keeping it real” letters are especially appreciated. Life is full of ups and downs, and I don’t mind hearing about the “downs” and laugh out loud at many of the ups and “funnies.” 2016 has been a “horrible” year for my family — lost my mom in April, my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer in May and passed in August. And then in October, my beautiful, sweet daughter-in-law, mom to 2 young girls, 29-year friend, partner, wife, soul-mate to my only son, passed away for “no reason determined.” The wounds are raw! It’s just too much! I’ve had to be the “strong one” for my families; and it is taking a toll. Thank God for the support of small groups! I can’t even contemplate Christmas. Let alone my first Thanksgiving without my parents and daughter-in-law, and all the other events we had planned through the end of this year. Heading off to “GriefShare Surviving the Holidays” today, hoping to get some comfort and a strategy for avoiding public meltdowns.