A Sweet, Subdued Celebration

Our Christmas was memorable for the unexpected.  First, my father-in-law was admitted to the hospital a few days prior with a severe infection in one foot.  Originally, it was hoped that he would be out by Christmas, but it turned out he was to stay until three days after.  

In spite of that, we were anticipating a somewhat normal celebration until mid-day on Christmas Eve, when both my wife and I succumbed to a potent, swift-acting stomach flu.  Others in the family had been afflicted with it earlier but we had (so far) avoided it.  We were to host a Christmas Eve celebration at our home and the next day have Christmas dinner at our daughter's house nearby.  Just an hour before family was due to arrive Christmas Eve, we had to call everyone and cancel.  Still, our eldest daughter and her husband came over to spend the evening with the rest of our girls.

So, between trips to the bathroom, we lay weakly in our bedroom listening to the sounds of our offspring making the best of the circumstances, enjoying the company of each other.  It is hard to describe the comfort that comes when you are essentially incapacitated, but can still catch an inkling of the Christmas joy experienced by your offspring.  By Christmas morning, we were over the worst of the symptoms.  Which meant we could at least be physically present for breakfast and the subsequent unveiling of the contents of Christmas stockings.

Meanwhile, my wife's brother and sister visited their father on Christmas Day.  Their Christmas dinner was at the Olive Garden.

We were at last able to convene for a post-Christmas dinner yesterday.  The food was great, the children noisy, and the realization that nothing can be taken for granted was palpable.  Grandpa was out of the hospital, but not yet able to join us.  Conversation wandered to "tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago" with a special gratitude because this Christmas was so different, reminding us that each Christmas gathering is a gift, and that while next year holds no promises, it does offer hope.  'and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts' (Romans 5:5).