A buddy of mine, Joe, had a terrible week. His dad was in the hospital with rapidly failing health. The doctors seemed helpless to treat him. As Joe's father's pain grew worse he had less and less energy to fight back any longer. It seemed as if the end was near. The family began the difficult process of making peace and saying goodbye. Then yesterday there was a break, and the hospital decided to send him home as his condition had improved a bit.
Baby steps, might be the best way the doctors are proceeding with treatments. Christmas miracle? Christmas blessing? Who can say? Joe's dad is still serioussly ill, but his mom put it perfectly, as the family made sudden and unexpected plans for the holiday at home, instead of at the hospital, or worse. "At least we'll all be together," she said.
Many of us are apart from our families on this holiday, for a thousand and one reasons. Some are off to war, others stuck in airports. many of us are scattered across the country, out of work, short of cash, short of time, and some are seperated by their own pride, shame or ego. But the mgic of the season, regardless of faith is supposed to be one of love and forgiveness and redemption.
The lesson of Joe and his family is that we take the chance to say to family and friends how much we cherish them and cre for them while they are here. The lesson is that we take the opportunity to say "I love you," while they and we are still able to reach across the isle, pick up a phone, arrive on a doorstep or scribble a note. Life flees us all too quickly, and too unexpectedly to squander those chances.
And it extends beyond families and friends in the purest and nicest of ways. There are those who will politicize the season, and those who wish to impose obligatory greetings, as if they were paying hommage to a potentate. This morning on the way to work, from a Muslim fellow at a convenience store to most everyone else came heart felt and sincere Christmas and holiday greetings.
After the craziness and insanity of shopping malls has passed, after the politics and foolishness, after all the jerks who try to turn the holiday into a cause rather than a celebration between people this is my favorite time of the season. And to all those I have ever hurt or disappointed, I am sorry. To all those close to me, I love you and the Merriest of Christmas'
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