Merry Christmas

First off, a very merry Christmas to all!

This is the first Christmas day that my mom's side of the family has not gotten together to celebrate.  A chapter of our time as a family has ended.  Most likely the aunts, uncles and cousins on that side of the family will not see each other except for big life events.

It's sad.  An ending.

One of my favorite Christmas traditions in recent years has taken place with that family, on this day.  

We gather, as a family, around the table.We take a King James version of the Christmas story, type it up and cut it into strips.  The strips are placed in a basket and passed around the table, each person grabbing a verse.  When we first started we were smaller, some people took multiple verses.  On our last Christmas we each had a single verse.

We then go around the table reading the passage.  Voices joining together, weaving the story.  A story of love.  Of hope.  Of promise.  Of joy.

Then it all ends with a big AMEN!

Two days ago in the mail I received a dvd.  A recording that I did not know existed.  A video of the family, on our last Christmas, reading the story.

Here is the beautiful part.  In the video, my Oma is reading.  Something she doesn't do anymore.  She is  holding conversations with us.  Something she doesn't do anymore.  She is recognizing us, if not by name she knew we were family.  Something she doesn't do anymore.

So this morning I woke up at my parents house carving out new traditions of our own.  Breakfast and coffee.  Gifts from under the tree.  Stockings from Santa.  Then the boys shoveled while my mom and I cooked our Christmas meal.  Fleisch kuekle.  It's one of my favorite things to eat, but something we only eat a few times a year.

After that it was movie time.  All together.  Then I headed home to watch (nerd alert) the Doctor Who Christmas Special.  Hot cocoa and Jammie Dodgers.  When it was over I turned on my holiday tunes, opening up my laptop and am typing as I sit in the light of the Christmas tree.

I am listening to my new favorite Christmas song.  "Real" by Nichole Nordeman.

Mary, you look so serene, far too pretty, much too clean.

We might think we know you well, but what stories would you tell?

Of all the dirt and dust and shame, every burning labor pain,

And as I turn to walk away, I hear you say…

I am real.

Don't turn me into memory or myth.

Let me be real. Real.

And I'll show you what it means to love like this.

To be real.

Mary, may I remember always that you are real.  You are not just a story in a book.  You are not a distant memory.  May I remember that you were and are a living breathing example of love.  Of a love of the strongest, purest, most honest kind.   May I learn to love as you love.

 

And to you, YES YOU!  Whoever you are reading this.  Whether I know you in real life, or online.  Whether I know your name or you are a stranger to me.  I wish YOU a Happy Holiday.  One filled with joy, peace and a love like Mary's.

Remember, many things in life can wait… 

but family, building memories, 

and The Sunset Won't.