Our Dad has been gone now for 12 days. Marc texted me yesterday "Just realized Dad died the same day Pearl Harbor was attacked. Kinda seems profoundly appropriate considering we watched WWII films my entire childhood. LOL. Love you -Marc". It's amazing the revelations you have when loved ones are gone.
This Christmas is an emotionally complicated one. It's the first time in 25 years of marriage that my husband and I aren't dividing time between two families. Two states. It's the first time in years we aren't worrying about my elderly parents being alone on Christmas morning.
So much sadness. Yet there's joy too. Our oldest daughter just completed her academic requirements for college graduation. She begins her semester long, 5 days a week, teaching internship in January. In May she will be graduating magna cum laude with a degree in elementary education. My parents, the academics, would find sheer joy in her accomplishment. Particularly my mother who was a teacher for 30 years. It certainly would have been a highlight of their Christmas.
My mind just continues to think about the disciples after the crucifixion. Did they have days where exciting things happened and they longed to tell Jesus? Like my brother did they recall certain dates that provoked fond memories? Did they struggle believing He was really gone?
The greatest gift God gave mankind was the birth of Jesus Christ. Because of that baby, born in a manger, we have the opportunity to do life differently. Jesus was born to die for our sins. We celebrate Christmas because of His fulfillment of a new life for us.
I will never know for certain. I think-no, I pray- my Dad had new life in Christ. In his last hours we asked him if he understood that Jesus was his Lord and Savior. Eyes closed and practically incoherent he squeezed my hand.
This Christmas give thanks. Not for the presents and the food. They are merely the ornaments on the tree. But give thanks for that baby boy. The man named Jesus. The one who hung on that tree for you and me.
"For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace"-Romans 8:6
