Neuer Gedankengang!

The months ahead

A friend on Facebook asked for thoughts on Christmas to help her prepare for a talk. This is what I wrote.

The times that have been especially meaningful were those with very little commmotion around them, little shopping, no big meals, not a lot of people around -

One was the time we were with David's elderly parents on what proved to be their last Christmas with us, mom with Alzheimer's, dad with a broken hip. I realized how important it was to still "do Christmas" and to share with them to the extent that they could. Doing that was simple and quiet and relieved the stress for us, plus it created precious memories, of mom helping with the dishes and, in the manner of people with Alzheimer's, being able to answer questions about what Christmas was like when she was young when she couldn't remember who we were.

And two of the Christmases since David died when, rather than traveling to be with my family, I chose to stay home so that I could focus more on the spiritual meaning.

The first time it was to have what I knew would be the last Christmas in the house that David and I had shared. It was both remembering and honoring him and our life together, and acknowledging that "Christmas" hadn't died for me when he did. The reality of God in my life was perhaps even more important to focus on.

The second time was last year, when I was first committed to a new church community, and it was important to share the spiritual experience of Christmas with my spiritual family. I will do that again this year, stay in Little Rock until after the celebrations at my church, and then travel to see my family.

posted by Shirley Schuette @ 5:42 PM