Merry Christmas 2008

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After days of snow, gray clouds, rain and….well more gray clouds, Christmas morning 2008 came with a burst of sunshine in my corner of the world.

Allelluia!

Of course there are many more reasons to “praise God” with an Allelluia this morning…it’s Christmas around the world! You don’t have to be a Christian to share or appreciate this spiritual warmth. Without question, on this day we are collectively as a global community raising our hearts in praise for the love and kindness that we say is in each of us (and more importantly DEMONSTRATE) because of the birth of Jesus.

This morning, after gathering with the kids to open presents, absorb coffee and partake in leftover baked apple-caramel pie, I crawled back up to bed to savor all the good feelings I had inside.

I thought about last night and how we enjoyed the company of family in our small, cozy living room.  We laughed about events from the past and went over the funny things in our lives that are everyday occurrences but are such fun to share.

We played a podcast my 15 year old son had recorded about a year ago. He’s such a serious fellow…sharing with us his angst over society’s obsession with Hollywood celebrities even as such weighty subjects like human rights violations in Sudan demand our attention.

We agreed, felt disgusted at the times we’ve enjoyed Entertainment Tonight, then we ate.

We looked at a mini movie my daughter had created that manipulates some of the images she has created at Art school over the last few months.  Money well spent!

Then we inhaled our dessert.

I can’t believe we got my mom a little tipsy this year.  I decided to serve martinis and my mom is not a drinker.  After having her first martini ever, her eyes shrank down to thin lines and permanent grin took over her face.  That was bittersweet seeing her giggle with inebriation.  A few years ago we thought we would  lose her when she was in dire need of a kidney transplant and here she was lighting up our evening in excellent health.  My eternal thanks to a special individual (who left this world suddenly) and his family who together, through their decision to make an organ donation, made it possible for my mother to live.

As I lay down for my second nap this Christmas morning I said to my husband that the best gift we have is this family–something that can’t be bought.  Realizing this every once in a while gives you a healthy perspective on “wish lists.”  There isn’t a “thing” that I wish for, rather I’m thankful for the healthy family that I have and I pray that all of us, in communities everywhere will have the opportunity to love and receive love throughout our lives.

Merry Christmas to you and may the peace, joy and blessings of that first Christmas morning sustain you throughout the year.