Dearest Gehrig and Eliana,
It has only been a few days
since you left Possum Kingdom, but Granny and I miss you both something
terrible already. Didn’t we have a grand
ten days together though, celebrating Thanksgiving on December 5th
and Christmas on December 6th?
I know you two didn’t care those were not the traditional days for these
events. Judging by the smiles on your
faces as you played with the dozens of new toys Santa brought, you could have
cared less what day it was or even if we were in the Advent season at all.
In the Christian faith the
season in which we celebrate Christmas is called Advent. It means “the coming” and it is the period
during the church year when we focus on the coming of our Lord both in the past
and in the future. It is not just a
single day, December 25th, when we celebrate the birth of
Jesus. After all, even biblical scholars
disagree on the actual day of our Lord’s birth.
So having the season of Advent allows us a longer period, from the
fourth Sunday before Christmas to Christmas eve, for celebration, reflection
and hope.
Oh, I know, for young people
it is all about the presents and the Christmas decorations, Santa Claus and
stories of elves and reindeer. It is
easy to get caught up in all the trappings of the season and not just for
children. Grown-ups and parents
especially fall pray to the Christmas hype and hyperbole. Our newspapers weigh at least an extra two
pounds at this time of year because of all the advertisements and flyers
stuffed inside. Our mailboxes are jammed with catalogues; their purveyors
hoping to coax just one more purchase, yet another dollar from our already
weary wallets. And the ringing in my ears doesn’t mean I am getting old, it is
just the Salvation Army bell ringer at Wal-Mart. Then there are the Christmas
gatherings; dinner parties, office functions, the school holiday plays or other
festive celebrations that make December one of the busiest social months of the
year.
Of course, there is nothing
wrong with any of this (except maybe the weary wallet part), but it makes me
wonder if we are missing the point, which brings me to my next Pearl.
Twenty-Ninth Pearl: "Celebrate Advent All Year Long"
It would have been more
appropriate if this was my twenty-sixth letter to you. The 26th is the day after
Christmas. No one celebrates that day
unless you are a dedicated bargain hunter and live for the opportunity to pick
up next years decorations at half price.
No, the 26th is the forgotten day, the day for leftover Christmas
ham sandwiches and, for some, the going back to work day. It is the day for many when we start to
forget what the previous day was all about.
And pretty soon after the 26th, when all the decorations have
been taken down and stored away for another year, when the newspaper is lighter
and the mailbox more spacious, when the store music goes from “Rocking Around
the Christmas Tree” back to Barry Manilow, the joyous celebration of the coming
of our Lord goes back in the box with the rest of the seasonal ornaments.
When you get older, my
darlings, don’t let that happen to you.
Remember the celebration of Christmas and the birth of Jesus is just the
beginning. The Advent of our Lord is still
ahead of us. The salvation we claim
through the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord manifests itself when
Jesus comes to us on a daily basis; residing in our hearts and minds and
guiding our behavior and our actions.
The Christmas spirit delivered to us during the Advent season can bring
joy and hope everyday of the year, not just on the 25th. That is the true gift of Christmas and it is
better than all the gold, frankincense and myrrh in the world. It is even better than the big yellow Tonka
dump truck with back up alarm, lights and motor sounds, Gehrig. Trust me on this.
Merry Christmas and,
remember, I love you bunches and bunches,
Grandpa Jud
