Advent Day 20 - One Memorable Christmas (and what it taught me)

Hi, Winnie Griggs here. Today I want to tell you about one very memorable Christmas.

I've lived well over half a century (wow, just writing that is surreal) and I have spent every single one of those Christmases (if not the day itself then the day chosen for our family Christmas gathering) with my mother and extended family, every one, that is, with one very memorable exception – Christmas 1985. 

The summer of 1985 I discovered my then current pregnancy involved twins. To say my hubby and I were caught by surprise is an understatement. At the time we had a daughter who was almost four and a son who was almost two. But we were also excited – twin blessings!

However, my doctor prescribed complete bedrest for my last six months. So by mid- August I was on medical leave from work and stuck in bed and only allowed up for absolute necessities – not easy to pull off when you have two little ones under age 4!  But my husband was a real trooper and really stepped up to handle the childcare challenges. I figured I’d make the best of it by taking it easy and catching up on my reading. But those next six months proved to be a true testing for me.

Almost immediately after the start of my "confinement" my mom was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The out-of-the-blue diagnosis threw the whole family for a loop. Since I lived over three hundred miles away from her there was no way I could slip away for a quick visit. Fortunately my Dad was still alive at the time and my other four siblings all lived close by so she had lots of support. Still, it was difficult to not be with her and only get second hand reports.

Then there was a second shattering event – in early December my grandmother passed away. Again, I couldn’t be there for the funeral or to grieve with the rest of my family, and had to do it from afar.

When Christmas Day rolled around, I thought I’d prepared myself – after all I’d known from the outset I wouldn’t be able to go down to spend it with my folks and siblings. But it hit me unexpectedly hard. I did my best to hide it, for the kids’ sake if nothing else. I escaped my bed for a few hours that day when we went to visit my husband’s mother who lived nearby – all-in-all a nice quiet Christmas day with many sweet moments to cherish. Lovely and enjoyable but not the crowded, boisterous, extended family gathering I was used to.

The rest of my period of bedrest was uneventful and on January 12^th we welcomed two beautiful baby girls into the family. And my mother's health issues had a very happy and healthy outcome as well.

Later, looking back on that period, I realized that God was honing me, teaching me patience and reliance on Him, helping me to see that He is enough and is with me even when I can’t be with loved ones through life's trials and festivities. And that the season is not about family and celebration, though there is nothing wrong with family celebrations,  but it is about His birth, His grace and His love and those must have priority.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. 

Psalm 73:26 

And this year we will again be spending time with my large, exuberant family. There will be about 33 of us gathered at my mom's with lots of food, stories and joy at being together. But I hope I never lose sight of the lesson that was driven home to me that long ago year by a loving God.

This year I wish you peace and blessings however you spend your Christmas.

And as a special Christmas gift to you, I’d like to offer  to three of our commenters a copy of any book of their choice from my backlist. (You can find the complete list on my website at www.winniegriggs.com/books.php) 

Just leave a comment about what your favorite part of the Christmas festivities are.

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