A Christmas Wish

I received a Christmas card today with a prayer inside the card.  The prayer goes something like this:

 

I Said a Prayer

For You Today 

I know God must have heard,

I felt the answer in my heart,

Although He spoke no word.

I didn’t ask for wealth or fame;

I knew you wouldn’t mind.

 

I asked Him to send treasures

Of a far more lasting kind.

I asked that He’d be near you

At the start of each new day,

To grant you health and blessings

And friends to share the way.

 

I asked for happiness for you

In all things great and small.

But it was for His loving care

I prayed the most of all.

 

This Christmas card and the prayer that was contained in the card is a reminder that while we’re rushing around trying to buy the perfect present for that special person and stressing about the Christmas lights that don’t work, the presents that have not yet come in or been delivered, the rudeness of some people as they practically knock you over in the stores and supermarkets, it’s good to be reminded that the real reason for this time of the year that should be a wonderful and joyous time filled with love, is that we who believe in Christ are celebrating his birth over 2,000 years ago.

I find it helpful to take a few moments out of each day during this time of year and reflect on the many blessings that have been given to me over the years, and to trust in God concerning those trials that each of us in so many different ways are faced with in our daily lives.

In reflecting on those many blessings, I think it’s worthwhile to let one’s mind wonder back as far as one can remember to the time spent with our mothers and fathers, and brothers and sisters, and bringing that time forward reflecting on those things in our lives that meant the most to us.  With me, I grew up in a very modest home with a loving mother and father, who are still living and still married, and eight brothers and sisters.  We had very little in terms of worldly goods growing up, but there was a lot of excitement every year at this time, and although we all looked forward to getting the present or two that we would get from Santa, and another present from our parents, and presents from our grandparents, I looked most forward to the time I first realized there was a God, to spending quiet time in our local Catholic church in the dark before anyone else arrived, meditating on the greatness and glory of God.  I recall with great fondness walking from my house in South Charleston, West Virginia, to the Blessed Sacrament Church on those many cold, dark mornings.  I would leave quite early, as I was the altar boy on many of the mornings, and tried to arrive at church even earlier than was required for the very reasons that I previously mentioned. 

I then reflect back on the time spent with my wife Linda when we were first married and the two-and-a-half years before we had children.  I remember putting the Christmas trees up together, picking what we thought was the perfect tree, and Linda making our first ornaments in a ceramic workshop.  I remember, too, the beautiful ceramic Christmas trees that she made for us and for our parents and a few of our friends, that took so long to make, and she made with such pride.  As I think of those ceramic trees that Linda made, I’m filled with warm thoughts and compare those to the many magnificent pieces of art and treasure that we now have, I still think that those ceramic trees that Linda made were perhaps the finest pieces of art that we’ve ever owned.

My mind jumps ahead to the birth of my sons, Jamie and Ben.   Boy does that change your life.  We are forced as men, being the selfish creatures that I think we often times are, to get out of ourselves and to think now not only of our spouse, but also those wonderful little creatures called children that God has allowed us to associate with.  At my age now, I’m able to appreciate how much more the love, the sacrifice and the beauty of my wife bringing those children into our home.  The Christmases that we had were filled with love and laughter, Linda doing the things that a lot of mothers do with their children, baking cookies and cakes and pies, and the very special presents that we would pick out with much love for the kids.

I also reflect back on those many nights that Linda would insist that I put together those seemingly impossible garage sets, tents and other items that seemed to always be missing a part.  Surely, when we lived in Oglebay Park, I remember driving at 3:00 in the morning over to the maintenance department at Oglebay and seeing if they had a particular type of screw, nut and bolt that would help me finish putting together the car garage that was missing a part.  That’s one part of Christmas that I don’t miss, and I’m glad that has passed me.

When the kids got older, I also reflect on the vacations that we’d take around Christmas.  If everyone was healthy, we would take a trip to Utah to ski in the mountains.  What a great family vacation.  The skiing itself is an incredible winter sport that touches all senses.  The costumes are beautiful.  The athletic event of skiing is exciting.  The snow tipped pine trees and the white covered grass is gorgeous, and the comradery is incredible.

It’s also nice that my teenage sons were held captive by my wife and me because there really wasn’t anything else to do.  Our teenage sons were forced to spend one full week hanging out with just Linda and me.  What a great treat it was.  I can remember buying Christmas trees in Park City, putting them in our condo, and decorating the trees with popcorn and berries that we threaded together with needle and thread.  We’ve never done it before or since, and as I’m writing this blog, I’m thinking it’s surely something that we should start anew.

I also remember with great fondness attending mass together and dressing up for Christmas the way that we used to dress for every single Sunday when I was young.  That is, we wore suits, ties and church became very festive at Christmas.  

While my Christmases now are quite different than before, I still cherish the season itself and love the fact that so many people are able at this time of year to express the love and friendships that they have for each other.  The kids, their spouses and the grandchildren now come to our house Christmas week, and Linda fixes a big, special breakfast for the kids that she’s been fixing since we’ve been married.  We spend the day talking, playing and unwrapping presents, followed a day or two later with Christmas Eve mass, and later on Christmas Day, going to Ben’s house and Jamie’s house to share the excitement of Christmas with them and their children. 

If you can take the time to think about what this season really means, it truly does give us a chance to be the special people during this time of year that we would all like to be the entire year, we allow ourselves for a week or two, to do kind acts and say kind things that we often times forget to do and say the rest of the year.  And while it would be wonderful to carry out the tradition of kindness, caring and love the whole year, it’s still very special that we at least have this season to try to in some small way make up for our failures and lack of sensitivity for the rest of the year.  My wish for all who are reading this blog is that you too take 15 minutes and reflect back on the things that really made them the happiest, made them feel the best about themselves, and to pay it forward as long as you can for the rest of the year. 

May the love of Christ and the blessings that He provides to each of us be with all of you this Christmas season and throughout the year.