Wistfulness mixed with celebration. Wonderful people and events mixed with sad news and scary stuff. Mixed emotions, jumbled thoughts. Anticipation of adventure; sadness of saying good-bye. Excitement mixed with bits of fear. Celebration and loss tangled together. Peace and joy get interrupted; good will toward men gets confusing.
My own jumble includes celebrating 10 years as a cancer survivor and saying goodbyes to loved ones in preparation for our upcoming adventure. Meanwhile family and friends are dealing with a variety of stuff during Christmas week. Yes, I use the word "stuff" intentionally because there really is a lot of stuff. Good stuff, joyful stuff, the stuff of miracles, but also a bunch of really crappy stuff.
One friend remembers when her daddy died on this date when she was seven.
Another friend delivers a bouncing baby boy.
An aging mom makes the inevitable but sudden difficult decision to let go of her house and move into a tiny place.
A brother's sudden trip to the hospital awakens fear about a return of cancer.
Two different young guys proposed - and both received the yes answer they hoped for.
A young mom creates new Christmas memories for her two little girls when Daddy's medical crisis interrupts their travel plans.
Lots of friends try to stay warm after an ice storm cuts electrical power for thousands of people. They hope for fulfillment of the prophecy: 'The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness... '
Anticipation and expectations of beautiful and perfect holidays give way to mixed feelings. Life goes on. The cycle of life continues. Birth and dying. Sickness and health. Prosperity and adversity. Good news and bad. Celebration and loss.
No comments:
Post a Comment