This magical holy day arrives with delightful fanfare undeterred every single year. Christmas isn’t waiting for you to complete therapy. It isn’t changing the date because the snows obliterate the country. It doesn’t stop festivities as you set the treatment schedule and are too busy to celebrate. No, Christmas presents with its chaotic festival of sparkling lights and glory ready or not.
Isn’t that the very best way to recharge and refocus us? Every year regardless the drama, we find ourselves forced to participate. Sure there will be frenetic gifting, travel, traditional meals and usually cheesy decorations, maybe more than a little of shoveling thrown in to remember it is winter. But we are the ones being gifted with this sentimental momentous holiday of Christ’s birthday. Everyone will play their part to make the holiday special, especially for challenged loved ones. Many of us will recall when we were all together and preparations, wrapping, cooking, baking and holiday spirit filled our homes and hearts. We will attempt to recreate, especially for our little ones and develop new traditions they will cherish long into their lives.
We will be required to be unbothered for at least a day or perhaps over the next 2 weeks into the new year by sickness, treatments, and self-centeredness. We will appreciate each other even more. We will grab this holiday to create memories. We will hug and kiss those close and send prayers and love to those afar. We will take the blessings God has provided this Christmas and Hanukkah and infuse our own spirits with rebirth. The lights in the trees and spectacles will be dim compared to the bright hope and joy we will each project.
Patients will arrive to the centers with Santa hats jauntily placed to bring a smile to staff who themselves sport lighted reindeer ears. Everyone is in on it. We all know to not take one day or one Christmas for granted and we don’t.
So, this week, dear friends, as you gather, celebrate, and enjoy a wonder-filled holiday, please remember that the real gift of the season lies within and your generosity of love will bring hope to others far beyond this day. That is God working through your spirit, 2025 years in the making and still going strong.
May the peace of the Lord live in your heart everyday and His light shine upon you. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah.