It was a Christmas Miracle
Another Christmas has come to pass and I must say it has left me feeling really joyful and full of hope. Let me clear about my relationship with Christmas. I love the feeling Christmas brings, the happiness I see, the music that is played and the masses during this season. Advent and Christmas really do come alive for me at Mass, but it is dealing with the stresses outside of that realm that usually has me tied up in knots. Why? In a word, family is the reason.
There is so much expectation put into this time of year that it does cause me to feel the pressure of “How do I manage differing personalities and keep smiling through it?” Well, I am happy to say, the change in my attitude can be attributed to the things I let go of and the things I embraced. I embraced confession and made a resolution to participate and attend, and to make it a regular occurrence.
I also managed to get my mother out for the sacrament of reconciliation. That was after a lot of hemming and hawing on her part. I suggested she go, because I knew she needed to unburden herself and just find some peace. She went. And she felt better, lighter, and peaceful.
Our Christmas dinner celebration usually begins with a prayer and then we sit to enjoy our meal. This year, a dear friend introduced me to a tradition in her family where they each take a piece of a chocolate wafer (looks like a giant host) and each person offers up something they are thankful for. We are 21 people for my immediate family’s Christmas celebration and we all participated. This simple act broke the ice and set the mood. Everyone laughed, and enjoyed conversations. It wasn’t a frosty and stiff reception but more relaxed and happy.
I am not sure if it is just because we are all a little older, and maybe a little wiser, that this was such a great Christmas. It left me breathless to see everyone so much more at ease. It was truly my Christmas miracle.
Happy New Year Everyone!
Rema Celio
Rema Celio an award-winning professional editor. She has worked in educational publishing for over 20 years, for both Pearson Education Canada, and recently at the Insurance Institute of Canada. Rema is active in her parish of St. Benedict where she sings in the choir and leads the Catholic Moms Group. She is happily married and the mother of two teen-aged boys. Rema loves to read, cook and bake with her husband, and knit. With her family, she enjoys playing cards, watching movies, and going for walks. Rema recently graduated with her certificate in Theological Studies from St. Augustine's Seminary/UofT.
