Christmas Lesson

Christmas is many things, but this year my family gained a wonderful appreciation about one simple aspect of this blessed holiday. Christmas means Advent, shopping for just the right gifts, frost covered trees, baking, get-togethers, holiday cards, lefse, concerts, snow, decorating the tree with our sentimental ornaments, Mass, and of course family. This year, our SD weather hampered plans for many, a nasty blizzard swept through the plains. We all learned a valuable lesson about how easy it is to take family for granted. Christmas began with one blessed family. Families today honor the birth of Christ by sharing time together and counting our blessings. This year was interesting. The first disappointment was when road conditions made it impossible for Jennifer, Jed, and the kids to travel. We opted for Plan B, and made tentative plans to meet them a few days after Christmas, so that seemed okay. We went to Mass on Christmas Eve, not knowing what the morning weather would bring. Christmas Day, Hannah and Tyler had all sorts of presents, more than they needed of course. Brightly wrapped bags, packages, and Santa's secret deliveries, were all in place. Ron had even splurged on a new snowmobile, which received rave reviews. However, once the gift phase was completed, we came to terms with the fact that the roads were impassable, and we wouldn't make it to my sister, Kathy's. It was a huge dissapointment. Completely bummed. It just wasn't the same. So, the four of us were home, but with no traditional big gathering, there was an emptiness, an unfillable void. One phrase, "Family is everything", kept repeating in my brain. It spoke volumes about what is truly important in life. Christmas, without family, just isn't Christmas. Actually, I'm grateful for the experience. It was one of those lessons that one has to personally live through in order to fully appreciate. The people we love outrank gifts. Although the rest of the family gathered a few days later for a belated celebration, we were unable to be there. I doubt another Christmas dinner will pass without a reflection on how fortunate we truly are, to have family with whom to share our lives is truly a blessing. We'll all be ready for Christmas 2010.