Spreading Christmas Cheer by Ruth Bonetti

‘Tis the season to be jolly. 

Define jolly:
"Someone who is happy and cheerful in their behaviour. Synonyms: bright, funny, lively."

Let's celebrate the season...

Rather than focus on the day. After all, December 25 owes some poetic license to monks and Roman calendars. Let’s value and enrich time with loved ones, whatever the date. 

Lifeline help calls peak over the festive season. Credit cards max. Many over-indulge and over-imbibe. 

Hair fractures can split relationships. Split families haggle over time—quantity amid hopes for quality. Trying to prove and outbid love by choosing ideal gifts, aided by Chinese sweat shop imports.  As families scatter across the globe, offspring spread their wings into their own nests, Christmas can become fraught with in-law negotiations. 

This time last year I told how such scattering of dates meant we shared our home on Christmas day and dinner with four unattached, grateful people. Thank God for prompting me to ask my son “Can you think of anyone at a loose end who’d like to come?” Indeed, he did. Glad you suggested it. 

He brought his mate –let’s call him Jack—who was alienated from his family, whose colleagues didn’t understand his offbeat wit. Shunned by peers jealous of his formidable musical genius. 

We invited another lonely soul who struggled to form and keep friendships. Again an exceptional talent, but given little credit or encouragement for that. Bad experiences had recycled, spiralled to trigger action fight or flight responses that further alienated others. We’d done our best to support him through workplace bullying, not too overt for the boss wielded the cutting word axes.

Jack could talk for hours on any topic; philosophy, physiology, ornithology, religion (and misuse of it), the state of the world. After-life or nothing-after. His sharp mind played with ideas, his nimble fingers played anything that made sounds. In rehearsals Jack’s deadpan black humour sometimes got people off-side. Why should he care? He didn’t fit into institutions, didn’t want to. No boxes could contain him.  Jack spoke his mind–too well. Just as that sharp tongue slashed through staccato riffs. 

And six months later he died.
How tragic that Jack’s alienated family didn't organise a funeral to farewell friends, to celebrate his life and gifts. They didn’t give him the time of day, even one hour. But we gave him his day. 

Reflect before we point fingers

What phone calls could we make, to reconcile with others? Before it's too late? Rather than see them next over--or in--a coffin, before it's to late?

Don't we all bring some pocket sized-ones demons to our festive gatherings? Submissive ones? Do we dodge that argument (green/left vs. deplorables, anyone?) by activating our mouths with more pavlova or alcohol?

Do we skirt around loved ones who refuse eye-contact, unable to a risk a debacle by ramming through decades’ long impasse? Another drink, anyone? Do we wound with criticism (veiled of course), judgments, directives? 

Grant us Thy peace.  

One discordant note is enough to jar interpersonal harmony. 
Be the one to resolve discord with a healing cadence. 

May your Christ-mas time be blessed with God’s love, joy and understanding. 

And may you pass His peace to all you meet.

RUTH BONETTI wrote about her wintry Christmas experiences in Sweden and Finland in Burn My Letters, winner of the 2017 CALEB Nonfiction award. She sends love and prayers to all who battle fire in this tough summer season.

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The Greatest Story Ever - retold

Surprised, shocked, stunned, or amazed, much of this could apply as a young girl witnessed the incredible, two thousand years ago.  When an Angel of God, suddenly appeared and was seen by Mary she may have closed her eyes at first in disbelief. Perhaps she wondered if she was still asleep and possibly dreaming.  Or was there really a magnificent being standing in her room?  Maybe, after closing her eyes and counting to ten, Mary opened them again expecting nothing to be there. Yet the Angel remained, and waited patiently for recognition. The words from her prayer of the previous evening would come to mind.   

“Adonai, I love you so much, please use me as your handmaiden in whatever way you desire.”  

Was this now the answer to that prayer?  Mary believed it possibly was. 

His wings stood tall and shimmered as he spoke, “Greetings, I am Gabriel and you are highly favored Mary. The Lord your God is with you.”                                                                                                                                                                 

Adonai, her Adonai, was with her...? Her forehead creased in awe.  Then her heart thumped in adoration.  Before she could interrupt and question the meaning of this special messenger attending in person, more was spoken.                                                                                                           

 “Do not be afraid, you have found favor with God. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and name him Jesus. He will be called the son of The Most High God and will rule forever, and His kingdom will never end.”                                                                                                                                 

Mary felt an enlightening in her soul, and yet she reasoned … how this could be?  What would her fiancé Joseph say?  Surely since she was unmarried this meant she would be dragged to the town square and stoned.  What a disgrace for her parents who were devoted believers. Her mind raced on.….                                                                                                                                                                   

Reading her thoughts Gabriel took a step forward. “The Holy Spirit will come upon you Mary,” his voice reassured while eyes of fire pieced into hers.                                                                                                                                           

 “You will become impregnated by the power of The Most High and God himself will be the Father. Be at peace as He will take care of you; no harm shall befall you.”                                                                                 

Mary knew her reply could be nothing less than what now burst forth from her lips.                       

 “Praise the name of the Lord! May it be unto me as you have stated. For I know as his servant, that nothing is impossible with Him.”                                                                                                                                                     

 Closing her eyes once more and leaning back into the softness of her bed, Mary felt her insides moving of their own persuasion.  She saw in her minds eye the conception of a human life within her and she rejoiced in knowing she was chosen of God. The baby’s blood would be untainted because it belonged to the Father and not to her.                                                                                                               

Many years later her sister Salome’s son and Jesus cousin, John would write acknowledging this.    

 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word, was God.”  

Yes! When Mary Accepted That Word, The Word miraculously because a living embolism inside of her.  He was then able to be born as the Savour of the world.

      

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.” Ephesians 3:20 

Crystal Mary Lindsey at :  http://crystalmaryauthor.blogspot.com/  

                                            http://crystalmarylindsey.blogspot.com/

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May the Lord bless and keep you all safe in His care this Christmas.