I am a few weeks late but, Merry Christmas!
To say this year’s Christmas was different is an understatement, but saying it was amazing is an understatement too.
I was waken up around 7am with a group singing Christmas carols at my door with homemade noisemakers and a lot of Christmas spirit. The cooks had put all our dining room tables together and put out Christmas center pieces. Our fancy Christmas breakfast consisted of chocolate donuts, bananas, and bread. After breakfast, my team and I did our secret Santa presents. We had a $5 budget and stuck to it. Candy bars, baby bottles, hot chocolate, and fuzzy socks were traded amongst us. We laughed about our gifts and embraced the fact that the day was going to be way different than we are all used to.
We had our squad white elephant gift exchange and after about an hour and a half of singing, intense present steals, and toilet paper wrapped things being torn through, everyone ended up with a gift. We also all got to read the notes that were put in our sock stockings by our squad mates and leaders. It felt like home for a few minutes and it was super sweet. We took pictures and taped our little notes in our journals.
After lunch we put on our team colors and our tennis shoes and went out to the field. All the boys on my squad had a “draft” and they made teams to coach for a Christmas powderpuff game. Needless to say it was pretty intense and the boys made us have practices and scrimmages before the big tournament. It was so fun. I played QB for my team and the whole time I was just thinking how much my dad would’ve paid to watch me hahah.
After dinner and a Christmas movie we went outside and had worship around the fire. We sang Christmas songs and went around saying what Christmas in Africa was like for us. At the end we sang a Christmas song that I had never heard, it was from Mary’s perspective. And as cheesy as this sounds, in that moment around the fire it all hit me. The true meaning of Christmas. I thought I had known it all this time but I haven’t. I guess it took 19 years and a Christmas in the middle of Ethiopia for me to realize it. Of course we always say we know it isn’t about the gifts, but it isn’t about the music or the food or the parties or the cute pajamas or the outfits and dinners either. It’s only about Jesus.
I didn’t wake up in cute Christmas pajamas then eat brunch and open up presents with all my family around. I didn’t dress up and take photos in front of my tree covered in handmade ornaments. I didn’t text all my friends to wish them a merry Christmas or eat the yummy Christmas break and bake cookies.
I took pictures in front of our paper tree taped on the wall in my sweatpants and I was sweating for a few hours playing outside. I got to write and receive the most intentional Christmas cards that were filled with words from the Lord.
The main reasons I thought I was going to wish I was home on Christmas were the exact reasons it was the best Christmas. All I had was Jesus to celebrate.
Intentional and life changing are words I will forever describe that day with. I missed my family like crazy but I have so many holidays I get to spend with them in the future. Days like this years Christmas is why I keep saying yes to the Father, it is worth it every single time.
I went to sleep with a full heart and a completely different vision of my future Christmas days.
