Our tree came down a little earlier this year. Usually, I’m tucking the ornaments away on January 1 – a sleepy day-after with football games and the end of leftovers.
But this year, the tree was still nice and fresh so I didn’t have to wear gloves as if I were un-decorating a cactus. We put it out to the curb and it was hauled away with the rest of the schnerbles and scraps of the season.
Good golly, Miss Molly, it was a glorious week in the best ways possible.
Family members who needed a break came and, once again, shared in the traditions of their childhood and mine.
There was more than plenty of our traditional Christmas meatballs and rice pudding, cold cuts, cardamom bread and cookies – more than enough to keep us out of the stores until regular Saturday shopping. I didn’t forget yeast or cardamom or oranges for the stocking toes. And we didn’t run out of scotch tape.
We had an adult Secret Santa exchange with Tim’s family. Instead of everybody buying for everybody, we each left with a single treasure. Mine was a bee-YOU-ti-ful hand-crafted bracelet, perfect and sweetly personal.
I resisted the urge to shop the sales on the 26th … and I feel not one ounce of regret or sense of missing out. Not a bit.
A few disappointments (too minor to remember or mention), a few times I wish I had kept my mouth shut (as always), and saying farewell, we love you and miss you already came altogether too soon.
But all in all, it was a lovely Holy-day season.
I have no words of wisdom, no opinions to spout, no causes to rally. I’m tired but happy and welcoming 2019 with some warm reflections of 2018 in the background.
I loved Jesus even more this year and learned more about Him than I thought I would, mostly through the words of those who are wiser… and the pictures of so many in distress.
And I learned that I have a lot to learn.
Now, it’s just one wish for what’s to come:
I hope that all of our New Years find us thinking more of others, less of ourselves, and continually of the God who loved us so much, He sent His Son to this cruel world. He gave us all new life, born as a baby, to a young woman whose remarkable faith was recorded in Luke 1: Mary’s Magnificat.
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;
he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”
If you’d like to talk about this – about Jesus and His love and life, just contact me – there’s nothing I’d like more than to meet you where He is.
For now… happy New Year, my lovelies. Happy, blessed New Year.
Nancy Burton Wolfe 