Remembering how much we need each other
Let me say this up front so none of you misunderstand this post: I absolutely love my family. Our kids are wonderful and they have given us amazing grandchildren. So, now that the legal disclosures are complete, let’s get real.
My wife, Natalie, left a few days ago to be with our daughter who is battling cancer and to care for her post chemo treatment. We tried without success to convince her to come home for Christmas. So, Natalie will be with her for about a week until she is feeling better.
I was left behind to hold the fort and to welcome our youngest daughter and her family from Denver. She and her husband have three children and a dog. I’m so happy they came for Christmas, and we’re trying to convince them to move close to us. Close is good.
The kids are, of course, excited for Christmas. And, the fact there are wrapped packages everywhere under and around the tree and the living room furniture simply heightens that excitement. It is patently unfair to them, prompting unending questions about why we can’t yet open presents. I get it. Faced with similar circumstances, I would have lost my mind at their ages.
Making matters worse, there are way too many breakable things in our house that are tempting to little hands. Fortunately, the manger figures are somewhat indestructible, so we have encouraged the kids to play with them and to create their own versions of the miracle of the birth of Christ. For our two-year-old grandson, “playing” with them quickly deteriorated into throwing “Joseph” down the stairs that lead to the lower level. His dad intervened and made it clear we don’t throw the manger figures down the stairs, at which point our grandson pivoted to heaving it at the Christmas tree, breaking a large ornament. It happens, right? Not a big deal.
In fairness to the kids, the only semi-safe place for them, other than outside, is the lower level. Semi-safe is the operative term. Still, no permanent damage has been done. I have, however, had several conversations pointing out that the couch downstairs is not a trampoline and repeated requests to not walk on the tops of the cushion backs. Apparently, I am the only one who can hear me speak.
What really excites me is our son and his family are also coming in a few days. With their three, we will double the number of little hands. And, I’m figuring that means a geometric progression of incidents, not simple addition.
Are you having visions of Christmas Vacation or Home Alone, yet? I’m pretty sure I’ll start drinking heavily soon and may not be seen sober until the first of the year.
I asked Natalie if she was sure she didn’t need my help with our daughter’s recovery from her chemo treatment. Sometimes not witnessing the destruction in real time is helpful. No luck. She turned me down.
Okay, all of this is somewhat tongue-in-cheek. Having friends and family surrounding us at Christmas is an important reminder of the underlying central point in The Salt Messages, Jesus told us to love one another and we do need each other. Perhaps that message has never been as important for us all to hear as it is now.
Loving one another isn’t always going to be perfect, but when we look back on pictures of times past, the rough edges blur and we realize how being together makes us more complete.
So, I’ll try to take deep breaths as things occasionally go sideways over the next couple of weeks and enjoy making wonderful memories, broken ornaments and all.
Merry Christmas.