Christmas 09 was a little different for my family. For a variety of reasons we decided to have our family Christmas one day late. This is actually not uncommon in the Legg household. We did the same thing with Thanksgiving this year and Christmas last year. We don't care so much about the date, just as long as the family is together.
As some of you may know My Grandmother past away this past Saturday (26th). There are many details to the story that I could go into, but I think it sufficient to say that the day did not turn out as we had expected. Since then, many different people in various ways have commented about the timing of her passing (being so close to Christmas). These are my thoughts on the matter:
Yes, the timing was inconvenient, but a loved one's passing always is. For me, it has actually not ruined Christmas in the slightest. Do not get me wrong, it is NOT because I didn't love my Grandmother. She lived in our house for all of my childhood and much of my high school years. I have many precious memories of her. I AM grieving the loss. The reason why Christmas has not been affected is because of what I celebrate at Christmas.
If I celebrate comfort at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because life is been incredibly hectic the past few days.
If I celebrate gifts at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because the gift of a loved one was snatched away Christmas day.
If I celebrate the family coming together at Christmastime then Christmas is ruined because my family is now one member less.
Yet if I celebrate God becoming a man to save a broken world and give us eternal life with Him, then Christmas is NOT ruined because the reality of the gospel is STILL TRUE! If anything the death in the family fuels the intensity with which I celebrate Christmas. Weeping, yes, but still thankful for a God that is WITH us in our time of trouble. Thankful for a God that saved my grandmother, who gave His spirit to my grandmother, who comforted my grandmother, and has now brought my grandmother home. All of which would have been IMPOSSIBLE had Jesus not come as a man and died on a cross! Without Christmas there would be no hope for my grandmother, but because of Christmas we have hope, joy, love, salvation, eternal security! Grieving...yes, but not grieving as those who do not have hope.
So you see Christmas is not ruined because we don't celebrate gifts, rest, or family. We celebrate Jesus...and Jesus was, is, and always will be...here with us...Emmanuel.
-James
