Almost Christmas

It is almost Christmas. There is a bit of blustery snow blowing about today, and it's about eighteen degrees. Soon I'll start cooking preparations. I guess preparations are much of what Christmas is all about. Preparing for company. Preparing presents. Preparing for something special to happen.

I do not have many, or perhaps any memories from my childhood about Christmases past. I don't know exactly why that is. Most of my adult memories have to do with preparing the church for Christmas worshippers, preparing the very best message I could muster. I do vividly remember the special moment of the first Christmas Eve service with Gerry, back before I became a pastor. We got caught up in the most magical gaze, newly in love, full of hope for our future, suspended there looking into each others' eyes for what seemed like a long time. I remember that moment for sure. Not that we were young kids, by any means. We were well into middle adulthood, both of us. Still, we were overwhelmed by love and Christmas magic.

For many years, Christmas was mostly about preparing Christmas for others, both a lovely service for parishioners and occasional worshippers, and a lovely feast for family. I still do the family meal. I have the time, the space, the desire, so the family comes to our house. For the candlelight service, I'm back to sitting in the pew next to Gerry.

We're still preparing---for whatever comes. Light, love, friends, laughter, good times, bad times. We are as prepared as one can be. We can get through it, because we have each other.