My dream for Christmas this year was very simple. It was to use all our Christmas decorations and have our family at home. In 2008, soon after my husband died in October, I put up all our decorations and wanted everything to be the way it used to be, but it can never be the same. It can still be good and rewarding but never the same. In 2009, I only put up outside Christmas decorations. I didn’t want the neighbors to think I was the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, but neither did I have the heart to decorate.
This year, I had a new motivation. My first great-grandchild, Jackson David Gray, was born July 15 and has been a delight since he was born. Every visit, every picture on their blog, and each time our grandson, Wes Mohney, connects us to Skype, I get more excited about celebrating Jackson’s first Christmas.
So, I turned to cleaning and decorating with a vengeance. By late Tuesday night, Dec. 14, both were completed, and I sat before the fireplace with the Christmas tree lights and the gas logs creating shadows across the room. The Christmas music reminded me of Christmases past and a question about what another year would bring. One thing I never questioned was the meaning of Christmas — that God sent Jesus into the world so we could be whole if we accepted his gracious gifts of abundant living now, salvation, and eternal life forever.
The following evening, some friends came to our home along with the freezing rain. They left with my admonition to “be safe.” Little did I realize it was the advice I would need the following day. On Thursday, the weather was better but still dangerous on bridges and secondary roads. I left early for appointments and errands and met my son for an early dinner. As usual, it was a fun time with lots of laughter and banter. We were leaving the restaurant, and I was holding onto the railing when my feet went out from under me when I stepped on something slick.
Two surgeries later and following some therapy, I hope to be back in business and feeling good as new. My husband used to say a minister should be prepared to preach, pray or die at a moment’s notice. I’m convinced that’s true for all Christians. Maybe we can’t all preach at a moment’s notice, but St. Francis said we should all give witness to our faith, and if necessary, use words.