Dear Family,
In the midst of all the things we do to prepare for celebrating Christmas, I’m very aware that under all the “Merrys,” I feel a wonderful “Happy.”
I hope I haven’t already lost you so early in the Twitch.
”Merry” reminds me of all the wonderful things past that I recall from a long line of Christmases. Tree shopping with Dad... the smell of real pine throughout the house... fancier ornaments toward the top of the tree out of reach of the latest toddler...
Saving ten dollars and buying Christmas presents for the whole family - nine other people, for that $10... I think Old Spice for Dad was $1.00
Riding my bike to Church to serve Midnight Mass and no one being worried about my being out at that time of night...
Reruns of all the old Christmas movies, with Jimmy Stewart’s angel, Clarence, in “It’s a Wonderful Life”... “Miracle on 34th Street” when Santa sent folks to Gimbels from Macy’s because Macy’s was out of something (or was it the other way around?)...
Waiting for the Christmas season to start as soon as you finished the Thanksgiving turkey... although now somewhat sadly, it seems Halloween is the new starting time...
Asking Mom what she wanted for Christmas and getting the standard (and maddening) answer: “Good children”...
Fast forward to last Tuesday and my finding Sue and Scott Martinez, Ann Murry, Carolyn Kervin, Susie O’Leary and Fr Del Provino all decorating the Main Sanctuary... (Fr Del pastors a small community, but loves to do arrangements and you see his work every Sunday)... also, part of the décor are the poinsettias that Sandy and Matt Keysers sent, as Matt continues to work at recovering... in the past they have always done our courtyard hanging baskets...
Imagine all those wonderful impressions and memories on one quick visit to a great group of people...
SO, I’m greeting people with “Happy Christmas.” I say Happy Christmas because somehow, that helps me see beyond all the visible beautiful decorations and customs, and go to the heart of the ‘reason for the season.’
As they say,
Jesus, come among us,
Jesus who comes to the human family,
Jesus who makes us His brothers and Sisters,
Jesus who takes us home to His Father,
and our Father.
That makes me “Happy. ”
I am enjoying all the cards we are receiving and I save them for the coming year when each day I will take one of the cards and pray for the people who sent it.
I had been trying to send a postcard to folk when their day came up, but I got a little behind and I finally said to myself, I know they will get the prayers whether I send them a note about it or not.
SO next April 15th when you get a little twinge, maybe it WON’T be the IRS, but my little prayer for you.
Anyway, maybe you’d think about doing that, too. Save your cards. Then each day during the year, pick a card and pray for the people who sent it, one each day. It makes a nice gift that lasts.
We (Annie, Patricio, Cathy, Peter, Her Yippyness, and me) wish you a HAPPY Christmas,
In Jesus,
