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In Memory of those Not With us This Season
10 Dec 2014 12:46 #1
by ComputerBreath
For those of you that remember or have paid attention to some of my postings, you may know that on 15 December 1978, my 11-year old world and consequently, my life changed drastically.
My 8-year old little sister, Shelley, was murdered--stabbed multiple times and her throat slashed--while she slept on the couch in our living room.
What made this tragedy even more heart-wrenching was that Shelley was a "Christmas Baby"...she was born at noon on Christmas Day.
The following is in memory of my sister, Shelley (pictured), who we lost 36 years ago and who would have turned 45 years old this Christmas, and in memory of all of those loved ones who are not with us this season.
From a book called "Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach:
"December 10, Gifts of the Magi
'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.' Jo March (Louisa May Alcott)
Jo's right. Remember when she grumbled about not having any money for presents in Little Women? Christmas is about gifts. Always has been. But we feel uncomfortable with this emphasis on gimme, gimme, gimme. Buy, buy, buy. Charge, charge, charge. We admonish our children to remember the reason for the season, even though we have difficulty remembering it ourselves when we're caught up in the chaos and commotion of the holidays.
Today let's ruminate on the Real role of gifts in the Christmas story. Those gifts were wrapped in miracles, which is probably why we can't find them at malls or in mail-order catalogs. The first gift was of Spirit: unconditional Love. The next gift came from a Jewish teenager named Miriam, who was known to her family and friends as Mary. Her Christmas present was selflessness, the complete surrender of ego and will needed to bring Heaven down to earth. The gifts of her fiancé, Joseph, were trust and faith. He trusted that Mary wasn't pregnant with another man's child; he believed there really was a Divine Plan to get them through this mess. The Child brought forgiveness. Wholeness. Second chances. The angels' gifts were tidings of comfort, joy, and peace, the reassurance that there was nothing to fear, so rejoice. The shepherd boy's gift was generosity: his favorite lamb for the baby's birthday present. The innkeeper's wife's gifts were compassion and charity: a warm, dry, safe place for the homeless family to stay, her best coverlet to wrap the new mother and little one, a meal for Joseph, the donkey's fresh hay.
Three kings from the east traveled many hot, dusty miles following a bright star in search of a royal birth. The sages' divination foretold the coming of the "King of Kings"; on their camels' backs were treasures with which to honor his arrival. But when they arrived in Bethlehem, they found the newborn prince in a cow stall instead of a palace. The shocked Wise Men unwrapped gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but their Real gifts were wonder, acceptance, and courage. They offered wonder by surrendering logic, reason, and common sense. Accepting the impossible, they suspended skepticism long enough to double-cross the insane King Herod, frantically searching for the child who would change the world. With courage--at the risk of their own lives--the Wise Men helped the young family escape to a safe haven in Egypt.
Oh, yes. Christmas is all about gifts. Nothing but gifts. But such gifts! Gifts tied with heartstrings. Gifts that surprise and delight. Gifts that transform the mundane into the miraculous. Gifts that nurture the souls of both the giver and the given. Perfect gifts. Authentic gifts. The gifts of Spirit, a frightened teenage girl, her bewildered sweetheart, the Child, the angels, the shepherd boy, the inn-keeper's wife. The gifts of the Magi.
Unconditional Love. Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Compassion. Charity. Wonder. Acceptance. Courage.
To give such gifts. To truly open our hearts to receive such gifts gratefully.
Christmas just won't be Christmas without any presents."
In Memory of those Not With us This Season was created by ComputerBreath
For those of you that remember or have paid attention to some of my postings, you may know that on 15 December 1978, my 11-year old world and consequently, my life changed drastically.
My 8-year old little sister, Shelley, was murdered--stabbed multiple times and her throat slashed--while she slept on the couch in our living room.
What made this tragedy even more heart-wrenching was that Shelley was a "Christmas Baby"...she was born at noon on Christmas Day.
The following is in memory of my sister, Shelley (pictured), who we lost 36 years ago and who would have turned 45 years old this Christmas, and in memory of all of those loved ones who are not with us this season.
From a book called "Simple Abundance" by Sarah Ban Breathnach:
"December 10, Gifts of the Magi
'Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents.' Jo March (Louisa May Alcott)
Jo's right. Remember when she grumbled about not having any money for presents in Little Women? Christmas is about gifts. Always has been. But we feel uncomfortable with this emphasis on gimme, gimme, gimme. Buy, buy, buy. Charge, charge, charge. We admonish our children to remember the reason for the season, even though we have difficulty remembering it ourselves when we're caught up in the chaos and commotion of the holidays.
Today let's ruminate on the Real role of gifts in the Christmas story. Those gifts were wrapped in miracles, which is probably why we can't find them at malls or in mail-order catalogs. The first gift was of Spirit: unconditional Love. The next gift came from a Jewish teenager named Miriam, who was known to her family and friends as Mary. Her Christmas present was selflessness, the complete surrender of ego and will needed to bring Heaven down to earth. The gifts of her fiancé, Joseph, were trust and faith. He trusted that Mary wasn't pregnant with another man's child; he believed there really was a Divine Plan to get them through this mess. The Child brought forgiveness. Wholeness. Second chances. The angels' gifts were tidings of comfort, joy, and peace, the reassurance that there was nothing to fear, so rejoice. The shepherd boy's gift was generosity: his favorite lamb for the baby's birthday present. The innkeeper's wife's gifts were compassion and charity: a warm, dry, safe place for the homeless family to stay, her best coverlet to wrap the new mother and little one, a meal for Joseph, the donkey's fresh hay.
Three kings from the east traveled many hot, dusty miles following a bright star in search of a royal birth. The sages' divination foretold the coming of the "King of Kings"; on their camels' backs were treasures with which to honor his arrival. But when they arrived in Bethlehem, they found the newborn prince in a cow stall instead of a palace. The shocked Wise Men unwrapped gold, frankincense, and myrrh, but their Real gifts were wonder, acceptance, and courage. They offered wonder by surrendering logic, reason, and common sense. Accepting the impossible, they suspended skepticism long enough to double-cross the insane King Herod, frantically searching for the child who would change the world. With courage--at the risk of their own lives--the Wise Men helped the young family escape to a safe haven in Egypt.
Oh, yes. Christmas is all about gifts. Nothing but gifts. But such gifts! Gifts tied with heartstrings. Gifts that surprise and delight. Gifts that transform the mundane into the miraculous. Gifts that nurture the souls of both the giver and the given. Perfect gifts. Authentic gifts. The gifts of Spirit, a frightened teenage girl, her bewildered sweetheart, the Child, the angels, the shepherd boy, the inn-keeper's wife. The gifts of the Magi.
Unconditional Love. Selflessness. Trust. Faith. Forgiveness. Wholeness. Compassion. Charity. Wonder. Acceptance. Courage.
To give such gifts. To truly open our hearts to receive such gifts gratefully.
Christmas just won't be Christmas without any presents."
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11 Dec 2014 12:33 #2
by ScienceChic
I can't even fathom the pain that caused you and your family Computer Breath, it makes me cry every time I read your words. I am so, so sorry for your loss. Thank you for the most important reminder.
Every year, I miss my grandmother on my Dad's side the most. She lived 2.5 hours away from us so almost every Christmas once we celebrated at home with my Mom's family, we'd drive up to St. Mary's OH to visit my Dad's family. My grandmother was one of those people who was always laughing or had a smile, who always had time to listen to her grandkids no matter what inane prattling we were spouting. She'd tell funny stories all day long, never a single complaint that life was hard. I miss her so.
Hug your loved ones. Appreciate what you have more than lamenting what you don't. Find peace if you can. Life is too precious and short to do otherwise.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
Replied by ScienceChic on topic In Memory of those Not With us This Season
I can't even fathom the pain that caused you and your family Computer Breath, it makes me cry every time I read your words. I am so, so sorry for your loss. Thank you for the most important reminder.Every year, I miss my grandmother on my Dad's side the most. She lived 2.5 hours away from us so almost every Christmas once we celebrated at home with my Mom's family, we'd drive up to St. Mary's OH to visit my Dad's family. My grandmother was one of those people who was always laughing or had a smile, who always had time to listen to her grandkids no matter what inane prattling we were spouting. She'd tell funny stories all day long, never a single complaint that life was hard. I miss her so.
Hug your loved ones. Appreciate what you have more than lamenting what you don't. Find peace if you can. Life is too precious and short to do otherwise.
"Now, more than ever, the illusions of division threaten our very existence. We all know the truth: more connects us than separates us. But in times of crisis the wise build bridges, while the foolish build barriers. We must find a way to look after one another as if we were one single tribe.” -King T'Challa, Black Panther
The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it. ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is. ~Winston Churchill
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