Bittersweet Christmas

From the first exciting moment of finding that perfect tree, the first ornament that starts the decorating tradition, the smells of Christmas baking, the familiar story read from Luke, the wild paper tearing and squeals of delight, to the heartbreaking moments of reality. While this may be the last Christmas we will spend with Dad J., the man we want to remember - the confident dad that could fix about anything, the Grandpa that loved to take walks with his granddaughter or show his grandson his latest airplane model - left us already after Thanksgiving. While we rejoice to be able to give Dad one last Christmas day kiss, we mourn that he will never remember it. Memories of this Christmas will be mixed with memories of morphine being added to the medication list, extra bed pads and wipes, groans replacing laughs, and the hospital bed where the Christmas tree used to be.

Yet we still have a hope, a peace, that none of this can dim. Dad knew that the first Christmas gift ever, Jesus - God's own son, was the most important gift he ever accepted. He held out this gift to his children and each one of them accepted it as well. His grandchildren have also embraced this gift and in so doing, his legacy continues. It is a legacy of life. (to be continued...)