Are you still celebrating?
Once, when I was a college girl, I spent my Christmas vacation out west with my cousins.
Menlo Park, California.
In December.
It was gorgeous.
I had brought my Christmas card list along with me so that I could keep checking people off my list. Come Epiphany and I was still cranking along, typing out lengthy personal notes and feeling very happy.
My cousins teased me. “You’ll be sending out Christmas cards in February! You can wish them a Merry Valentine’s Day!'” I accepted their ribbing with a cheerful grin, because being “on time” was not the point.
Getting in touch–staying in touch–was.
I’m still not “timely” when it comes to cards, and just finished the last of over 150 this morning. “Merry Christmas!” I wrote at the bottom. “At this writing I’ve still got four days to say that!” (Well, technically three since today’s the 9th day…but still. I’ve got the whole day ahead of me.)
And so this is still Christmas. Yesterday evening at Mass (I went a 2nd time by myself to the Cathedral because I can’t get enough of those decorations) the priest explained that the feast of Christmas is so meaningful that we need 12 days to unpack the meaning. There is much to consider when we look at that creche–that birth, that gift, my birth, my gift.
What can I give Him, small as I am?
It can be hard to celebrate for all 12 days–hard to be patient when you’re over-sugared, (trust me, I am), and hard to be kind when all the kids are home. Sometimes I feel like the Grinch pre-conversion–oh all the noise! All the noise noise noise NOISE!
Not that my kids use their outdoor voices inside.
And so this is still Christmas and we look at Him and we look at her. Mary, His mother, is also Mary, our mom. What can we ask her, in His name? What do we need for ourselves, our family and for our friends?
Be brave. What do we need, Lord, for our enemies?
On the 9th day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…
Fill in the blank!
All He wants is that we ask.
PS. Almost forgot to say: Happy New Year!
Mary says, "How come her gets a bigger gingerbread house than me?" I told her, "Because her mommy loves her more." She is now lamenting her sad fate of having a mother who loves her so little. Size matters, I guess.
Have a blessed new year, Margaret.
Hi Margaret, I am finally getting my Christmas cards in the mail today. Thank goodness I am not the only one. A couple of years ago I actually sent out Saint Valentine's cards to everyone on our Christmas card list – it was a BIG hit with the older generation relatives who were just happy to get a real letter unexpectantly.
Oh, and I just love your take on "my true love gave to me."
Yes, I'm still celebrating. The numbers on the scale prove it 😉
I never got to sending my cards this year. Everyone is getting lame and late emails instead.
Maybe if I had spend more time writing cards and less time celebrating with food…
Glad to know I am not alone! Just finished the ole' Christmas letter, that I just can't help but adding personal notes to…and tomorrow to print out the pics, stuff the envelopes and into the mail! Love the gingerbread house!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, Margaret!
Stacy in MI