As always, it’s hard to believe that we’ve arrived so quickly at the end of the year, the season of giving thanks for what we’ve received, of giving to others and of reflecting on where we’ve been and where we’re going.
This year has been one of mixed-up seasons, especially for those of us who live in New England. Spring arrived late because it took so long for the gargantuan amounts of snow dumped here to melt. Our typically golden autumn was rudely interrupted by a Halloween snowstorm that wiped out many trees still showing off their colorful leaves, tossing many of us into a week or more of existence without electricity, hot water, flushing toilets or heat. Trick-or-treating was cancelled in many towns. Kids (and their parents) were thrown off their routines as school was out not for one or two days but in some cases seven or even eight days, guaranteeing that summer will begin late for many of us.
In the midst of this all, we were reminded of some of the more important things, subjects that should be at the forefront of our thinking at this time of year. Things like helping your neighbors, and sharing what you’ve got. As we searched for normalcy despite downed trees and power lines, we found a new, somewhat simpler normal. Settling into the unplugged life, we were forced to slow down. Football and soccer and piano lessons were cancelled, so there was more time to read and hang out and play board games together. We ate dinner by candlelight, a practice usually reserved for special occasions. Despite the myriad of inconveniences, there were some unexpected gifts. You just had to remember to look for them. During this time, I was often reminded of these little gifts by my boys, which is usually how these things go. More often than not, our kids teach us more than we teach them. They enthusiastically embraced the candlelight, delivered candy in reverse trick-or-treating mode to some of our neighbors when it became clear that Halloween wasn’t happening as planned, and kept a running tally of who was ahead in Sorry and Monopoly and Trouble. For a brief period of time, because something was taken away, we paid attention to a few things that we probably should be focusing on more, even now that the power is back on.
At this time of year, we are supposed to remember unexpected gifts. The gift of a tiny baby, so poor and unimportant that He entered this world in a barn full of animals, yet so holy and powerful that He was sent by God to heal the world. The gift of light, sent by God, during a time of despair and fear and scarcity, when there was only enough oil to keep the lamp burning for a single day, yet it miraculously burned on for eight. The often-forgotten gifts that we receive at the beginning of a New Year: a clean slate, a fresh beginning, and hope.
Unexpected gifts often seem to show themselves even in the midst of inconvenience and trouble. Whatever season of life we are in, no matter what challenges we are facing, hopefully, during this season and during the coming year, we will be able to find those gifts.
Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy New Year. Here’s to unexpected gifts, not always obvious, but of course, the best kind.