Beloved,
I wish you a very Merry Christ Mas. The hustle
and bustle is settling down and we are preparing to welcome
the baby Jesus and all of our loved ones. All family and friends
make this a holyday of joy and celebration. Yes, we are busy
but we are busy preparing our gifts to give to each other…. The
gifts of time, love, devotion and also gratitude.
How often do we think of the Holy Family who is quite a symbol
for us of love and devotion to one another. Christ Mas is the first
model of ourselves as a family so this is why family is so important
on this special holiday. Yet, the ones who do not have “family” have
no need to feel left out. Families are a symbol of love which means
that whoever we love IS our family and we have an abundance of
Love which shows up in a myriad of ways and circumstances.
Last week, my granddaughter Holly, her partner Amber and their son
Morgan, my first great grandchild came for a visit. What a priceless
gift they gave me of their presence. They stayed 6 hours while we
ate, opened presents and got caught up on each other’s doings.
Morgan who is nine, brought a friend with him and they both enjoyed
sliding on the edge of the lake which was frozen but still had some
places that were not frozen. The boys can’t wait to come back and
walk and slide over the whole lake. That was my first Christmas
celebration this year.
My youngest son Bruce will come over tomorrow morning, Christ Mas
morning and we will get to chat and open gifts. What a way to start
Christ Mas Day. That is my second Christ Mas celebration.
The next day my oldest son Steve with his wife Angelica, and son Michael
and daughter Victoria will come over for breakfast and a visit. My other
granddaughter Laura needs to work so I will get to visit with her at a later time.
Can you imagine four Christ Mas’, each one different with different
personalities and different ages but each one so special in my heart.
Love for each other is what makes each visit special and also what makes
us a family. There will be calls to friends intermingled with that and I
include my friends as my family too.
Yet…..what truly signifies Christ Mas for me is the welcoming of
the child Jesus at the midnight mass. This year, I feel so privileged
as I was asked to do the readings at this special Mass. I consider
my congregation as my family also as we celebrate Mass each week
as a family. Although I do not know them all personally, we share
the celebration of the Mass each week so there is the energy of
coming together with a common focus.
I feel so blessed that putting my emotions into words this day is
presenting me with a challenge. I wish to thank each and every
one of you for allowing me to come into your home each week
and sharing the tidbits that I hope brings some joy and laughter.
The link below captures for me what Christ Mas is all about.
Notice all the different personalities and yet the common
bond of energy throughout these innocent children. It is in
the eyes of the innocent that truth reveals itself and allows
LOVE to be shared.
http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=ki8EcnVbd-Q
Love and Light,
Mary Grace
www.TheWoundedChalice.com/blog
PO Box 403
Wales, MA 01081, USA
413-245-3977