Tonight when we got home from hopping around to different family members’ houses, I was exhausted. Pooped. Drained. I was glad it was all over – Christmas and all of the hoopla, all of the late-night CVSing shopping and present-wrapping. I was just glad to have my family home but I wasn’t pleased with the “Christmas mess” that waited for me here.
Then I sat down at my laptop and I read something that stopped me in my tracks. I’m going to share it with you, because if you’re like me -feeling “all Christmas-ed out” – you’ll probably need to hear it. I know a lot of people talk about “the true meaning of Christmas” – I certainly am one of those who does truly celebrate Jesus’ birth – but I still allow myself to get caught up in the hurry & scurry, even though I try not to.
Three weeks ago on December 5th, my sister-in-law Sarah’s dad was diagnosed with stage 10 leukemia. His name is Jerry Armstrong. It was a “do-not-pass-go, head directly to the hospital to start chemotherapy” deal. So he’s been there for three weeks, with his wife, two daughters, and two sons supporting him all the way, and with his ten grandchildren (including my niece & three nephews) missing him very much. He’s had complications, but through God’s power he is holding his own. The chemo did it’s job, but there are other things he’s fighting. He needs prayer, lots and lots of it, and so does his amazing family.
Jerry’s family maintains a great website through Caring Bridge and they post updates on his condition several times a day. I am always hungry for news about him so I check it about a million times a day. Here is what his wife Carolyn posted today that made me stop and re-focus. I hope you will all be able to do the same. Carolyn doesn’t know she is about to become a “guest blogger” but I think she & Jerry would love it. So here goes:
The Armstrong family Christmases have always been filled with traditions. That is not a bad thing. It helps bind families together.
This year all the traditions that were so important have been set aside. Nothing is the same. And yet, Christmas came. Quoting from Dr Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, “It came without ribbons. It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes or bags! He hadn’t stopped Christmas from coming. It came! Somehow or other it came just the same.”
We know the reason it came is because of God’s indescribable gift to us. Jesus left the glory of heaven to come as a baby in a manger. His every physical need had to be cared for by another. What humility! He came to go through the ugliness of death on the cross so that we can have life everlasting.
We understand a little more this year about what Jesus did for us. Jerry’s physical needs have to be met by others. It is humbling. We have seen physical death all around us in the Marrow and Blood unit at the hospital. It is ugly! All of which makes the birth and death of Jesus more dear to us as we focus on the hope (certainty) of heaven.
We are rejoicing with you this day that Christmas is so much more than what we usually make it. It really is all about Jesus, God’s indescribable gift to each of us.
Carolyn
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and have a wonderful New Year, focusing on “God’s indescribable gift to each of us” each day.
All my praying people, please lift Jerry & family up in prayer! For real encouragement you can visit his website here.
