Tonight I’m sitting in my apartment with a holiday candle burning, listening to Christmas hymns and blogging by the light of my (fake) Christmas tree. I’m baking cookies for a holiday tea at work tomorrow, and I have a warm mug of apple cider. I am so full of the holiday spirit I’m nearly ready to burst. This holiday season has been very different for me than years past. It’s the first year I’m experiencing much of this season alone. Of course, I have wonderful friends in DC, and just this week I’m having some girls over for cookie decorating. But, on a nightly basis I’m coming home to my little apartment alone to celebrate by myself. Some nights this seems really lonely. Some nights I wish I had my boyfriend or my old roommate or my family to watch Falalala Lifetime with me and dance around to Mariah Carey Christmas. Some nights I don’t even turn on my tree because it doesn’t feel like Christmas when I’m not surrounded by love. But, some nights, nights like this night, I’m quietly taking in the season peacefully and gratefully by myself. I’m remembering Jesus and praying by the tree. I’m listening to “Away in a Manger” and “Oh Come All Ye Faithful” and truly remembering what we’re celebrating. I’m writing Christmas cards to those I love, and I’m enjoying every moment of this night.
I’m quite sure it’s these little moments that make up the joy of Christmastime. It’s small reminders of our good fortune, our blessings and our hope. I’ve had so many of these little moments this December between dinners with close friends, church sermons, laughing and singing. I’ve had some of these reminders on my own and some have been brought to me by my friends and family. I had two very simple reminders of what this season means just last week when I was home in Pittsburgh with M. My boyfriend has the biggest heart and the most generous soul. He does things simply and without second thought just because they are right and he is good. He’s probably going to be mad at me for blogging about these two simple moments, but I can’t stop thinking about them. Last weekend, we were having breakfast at a local diner. The restaurant wasn’t very crowded and our service wasn’t very good. I was getting annoyed. Our breakfast eventually game followed by the check. M picked it up to pay, and when our server brought back the credit card receipt, M gave her a tip well over the usual 20%. I made a comment that he was being awfully generous for someone who didn’t provide us very good service. He didn’t even look up from signing his name as he said, “It’s the holidays; I’m sure she needs it more than I do.” He didn’t think twice, he just shared what he could with a woman who probably did need the money more than we did.
Then, just a few minutes later, we were at Target searching for a gift for the 13 year old boy M had picked off the gift tree at work. Thirteen year old boys are not my forte. Give me a eight year old girl, and I’ll pick out all the Barbies in the world complete with matching outfits. Needless to say, I was getting a little impatient in the toy aisle while M picked out just the PERFECT toy for this kid. He kept going back and forth between different Lego sets with Transformers and Star Wars and asking me which one I thought was better. I finally said something along the lines of, “I’m sure he’ll like whichever one you pick out.” M looked back at me and said, “Lia, what if this is the only toy he gets this Christmas?” Of course, he was absolutely right. This teenage boy might only have one toy under the tree, and M needed to make absolutely sure what when he opened it, he was going to be thrilled. So many of us grew up with bountiful presents under the tree on Christmas morning. Our parents didn’t have to worry about what Santa was going to bring because they could afford to surprise us with whatever was on our list. But now I’m thinking about all those parents who are struggling to fill the stockings and have to explain to their children why Santa didn’t bring the most expensive toy on their list. I needed a reminder of this, but to M, this was the first thing he thought about. I am so lucky to be with someone so loving of everyone, even those he doesn’t know.
So night I’m taking in everything beautiful about this season and praising God for sharing his Son with us this Christmas.
To peace and joy,
Lia
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