The Holidays

This past Sunday was Christmas. It was a difficult day for both your mother and myself. Part of the reason it was so difficult was because the entire celebration was focused on the birth of a little baby boy whose presence touched the lives of everyone around him, Jesus. For me and your mother, however, this celebration over a beautiful baby boy's birth, life and death brought back some painful reminders of you. While neither of us would ever make the mistake of comparing you to the Savior, we both believe that there are lessons to be learned from others and their Christlike attributes...including you.

In fact, while we were at church singing the song 'Away in a Manger' I had to excuse myself from the chapel briefly because my emotions got out of control. The song is about the baby Jesus and at several points describes what He was like as a newborn. "The cattle are lowing; the poor baby wakes, But little Lord Jesus, no crying he makes" was the line that sent me over the edge. You see, that line reminds me so much of you. You were such a peaceful baby. You never really cried or fussed. You were always happy and calm. As I excused myself and retreated to the solitude of the area in back of the church building I thought to myself that your example of reverence and tranquility must be similar to our Savior when He was a baby. Later that evening I commented to your mother that she and I both had some idea of what Jesus was like as a newborn because of our dealings with you. This is one of the simple ways that you remind us of our Savior.

Another reason that this holiday was so difficult is because so much emphasis is placed on being with family during the holidays. Nearly every holiday movie is based around some variation on the message that everything can go wrong for the holidays as long as one has his/her family and loved ones around. The tree can be botched. The presents can be stolen. The food can be destroyed and the house can be wrecked. But all is OK for the holidays if loved ones are present...after all, that's what the holidays are about.

Well, for us that's the one thing we don't have. We don't have all of our loved ones here. Were missing one. The center of the holiday message (family and friends) is forever off base for us...or at least for the course of our natural lives. The one thing that truly matters during the holidays is the one thing that we're missing. As I've said before, life just isn't the same with you here.

With Love,
Your Father