Merry Christmas everyone! Its Christmas Eve here in Zambia, a sweaty 90 degrees with no AC and slow ceiling fans. Sounds like a white Christmas right? This isn’t my first Christmas away from home. Last Christmas, I spent the holiday season in New Zealand for work (best trip of my life), so this isn’t my first rodeo.
When I was a little girl though, we went all out at Christmas. We decorated our house, our yard, the inside of our house, and most excitedly decorated our tree. Every year we picked out a real Christmas tree from a local business, strung it with colorful lights, gold garland, and Disney ornaments. Some years I was even allowed to put the angel atop the tree (when I could reach it of course). My sister and I always fought for who could put the first ornament on the tree. If I remember correctly, most years we counted down so that we did it at the exact same time. Nothing says Christmas spirit like sibling rivalry.
Our house wasn’t the best decorated or most put together, certainly not something you’d see in Better Homes and Gardens Christmas Edition, but it was home. It was cozy and warm, and oozing with love during the holiday season. But when my mom died, everything changed. She passed November 2nd, right around the corner from Christmas. Our house no longer was decorated, filled with Christmas songs and pies. Some years we didn’t even get a tree. It was just too hard. My precious dad did his best to make me feel warm and loved, but how can we celebrate a holiday where our biggest organizer and cheerleader is missing? He always made sure I had a few presents to open, always provided for me in the best way that he could. I admire him so much for his strength, because I know if it were reversed, I don’t think I could do it. However, christmas began to feel like a chore to me, something I dreaded every year because it reminded me of what I had lost.
So being away from home for Christmas isn’t hard for me. I don’t have Christmas traditions I’m missing out on, no 50 presents to open, or a big family gathering to Skype. What my experiences have taught me, however, is the real meaning of Christmas. We all know “Jesus is the reason for the season”, but until he’s the only constant in your Christmas season, that’s easy to lose sight of. I love spending Christmas with family and good food, and would kill to spend another Christmas with my mom, but even that is not why we celebrate. Those are just incredible bonuses. We come together to celebrate the birth of a Savior, the birth of hope. What a beautiful thing to celebrate.
This Christmas, I hope you count your blessings. I pray you look around and see everything you’re blessed with. The feast you’ll eat collectively costs more than the yearly salary of the average Zambian. If you have a solid roof over your head, you have more to be thankful for than most of the people I’ve experienced these 5 months. Most importantly, if you have family to gather around your table this year, be extra thankful. It is such a blessing to gather with your loved ones. And maybe say a prayer for those that can’t this holiday season.
Happy Birthday, Jesus. Merry Christmas everyone else. I’m looking forward to celebrating with you next year.
“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
