Christmases Past

Christmases  Past

      There are times when I attend gatherings where we share our most memorable Christmases. There is not one in particular, but there are several.  I think those that stand out in my memory are there because there is a tinge of sadness associated with them.  ‘The first is when I was seven.  My paternal grandfather was in the hospital with internal bleeding (or that’s how I remember it). He had always been a somewhat heavy man – when I was a toddler and preschooler, he was my elephant and would get down on all fours and give me a ride to the front door when it was time to go home. We were worried, but he did recover. He even saw that I received an AM transistor radio. While in the hospital, our pastor visited him and he made a profession of faith, i.e. “prayed the prayer,” but there was little if any growth in the ensuing years. How thankful I am that God sees and knows the heart.

      The next memorable Christmas came when I was 11.  That year it was my maternal grandfather who was hospitalized.  (There is an earlier blogpost about it – Christmas Redeemed).  He had severe diverticulitis, requiting surgery and a colostomy, which would later be reversed. There were many anxious days, but this scenario was different.  Both grandma and grandpas had a strong faith in Christ, and though these days were not easy, in fact many were sad and difficult, the presence of Jesus was real.

      The next memorable Christmas would occur in 1979, my senior year in college.  That, in itself, is not significant. However, the events that occurred leading up to that Christmas made it so. In October of that year, my paternal grandfather passed away after a four-year battle with cancer – first colon cancer and then leukemia. Then in early December, my mom,  my maternal grandmother, and I were on our way to a church event.  We were discussing the state the scarf that I wore around my neck when suddenly my grandmother’s speech became garbled.  I shouted, “Grandma” and she replied in garbled speech, “Oh go on where you’re going… I’m all riiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.” Of course, we didn’t listen to her. Mom, being a health care professional, immediately turned the car around and headed for the emergency room at the hospital. A doctor she knew was standing nearby. Mom jumped out of the car and ran to him with the words, “Dr. Storey, I think Mother has had a stroke.”  Grandma was given immediate medical attention, but she was largely unresponsive.  On Christmas day, Mom, Dad, my paternal grandmother and I were all gathered around the table for Christmas dinner.  Dad returned thanks and he praised the Lord that He was in control of all the events of our lives.  Grandma would live a few more weeks there in the hospital, but was called to Heaven before the family had to make the difficult decision of a long-term care facility. Truly the Lord was in control; His mercies abounded.

      These are a few of the many where God’s glory shone brightly into the darkness of our circumstances. I have learned that life does not always go as we planned, but Our God is there. He will not fail, and His love that never gives up, never runs out will engulf those who trust Him.  I am so thankful I have placed my trust in Him.