A Different Kind of Christmas
I certainly didn’t think I needed a reminder of what Christmas is all about. It is, after all, my favorite time of year. My home comes to life with tinsel and Nativity scenes. Cookies, pies, and of course, home-made Lefsa is all part of my busy schedule centered around the birth of the one who found me worthy to Save. It's also my favorite time of the year to be downtown at work every day. Festive decorations and music fill the skyways and the Crystal Court as the secular world oozes with Christianity.  Nothing can get me discouraged this time of year!
Then it happened, my husband and I both elected to have surgery before the end of the year that we might be in great shape for our vacation tour through Israel in March.
We now find ourselves having a different kind of Christmas. The big day is only two weeks away! Roger, now 12 weeks post-foot-surgery, is still on crutches and I'm still using a cane. Honestly, it's quite comical as we look like a couple escape inmates from the local nursing home!
We are finding new ways of throwing things to each other, only because it’s more efficient than manipulating the new body parts and sticks across the room. I haven’t done any baking, or cooking this year because standing around for hours on the new knee just isn’t working for me yet. We have no decorations put up because, really, which one of us is going to get the tubs out of the storage pit? And who will climb the step latter to hang the garland over the windows? Not to mention that everything is already cluttered and in need of a good cleaning, I just can’t see adding to it at this point. I’m also missing out on the downtown glitter as I work a little from my recliner at home. I always thought that would be a great concept. Up until yesterday, that is. Yesterday I found myself grumbling about the convenience of Amazon wish list shopping and wishing I had not “blown my holiday” on surgery as if this season was all about me and my festivities. You could say – I was getting discouraged.
But today is a new day. I think my husband and I are being challenged this year to look past ourselves and every secular aspect of what Christmas could ever be, to focus on the “real healing” of Christs birth. Christmas is so much more than celebrating the birth of our Messiah. It is also celebrating what Jesus has done for us, as well as what He has left to do. When I keep that in focus, I feel grateful instead of frustrated, and instead of feeling like I’m missing out, I only feel the blessing of family and friends. I haven’t had to cook for three weeks because I serve the Lord with an amazing Church and family, who have filled that need for me. The beauty and decoration of the season is their love as they become the hands and feet of Christ! Yes, the decorating, baking, and parties give reason to gather but they can also distract from the Passion of Jesus. His love is so great for us that He chose to die for us before we even acknowledged Him. That’s passion, and that's my kind of Christmas!
This year, in the quiet slowness of physical therapy, I'm not distracted by the typical lights and glitter. I only see the two greatest gifts this life has to offer; the love and commitment of my Lord and my family and Church. I will never be able to compose the words adequate to express my gratitude, but suffice it to say, I will never take them granted.
I only wish I could learn these things without the real life lessons!