A Memorable Christmas Eve

A Memorable Christmas Eve

         

What would you say if someone asked you about your favorite Christmas memory? I know I have lots of great memories of Christmas as a kid, but this year I find myself thinking of a Christmas Eve just nine years ago.

As we pulled into our quiet suburban neighborhood in the early evening, driveways were lined with glowing candles in paper bags. This was no ordinary Christmas Eve, full of our usual family traditions. Instead, the candles illuminating our neighborhood that night were in honor of 12-year-old Hope Stout, who was fighting for her life as she battled a rare form of bone cancer.

We parked our car and made our way to the Stuart and Shelby Stout’s home, where more than 150 people had gathered to pray for a miracle for their daughter. Although Hope was too frail to come outside and join us, the front door was ajar so she could hear her candle-holding neighbors offer prayers and sing “Silent Night” and other carols.

Sadly, Hope didn’t get the miracle we prayed for that night. She went to her heavenly home on January 4, not even two weeks after our Christmas Eve prayer vigil.

However, the story of Hope and her family didn’t end there. When approached by the Make-a-Wish Foundation and asked to make a final wish, Hope had told them her wish was to grant the wishes of the 155 other kids on their list. She had mentioned this in an interview with local radio host Keith Larson, and the idea went viral, touching thousands of people with the beauty of Hope’s selfless wish.

One of the people in our chilly Christmas Eve gathering had been Kevin Donnelly, a member of the Carolina Panthers. With Kevin’s help, Hope’s story was featured on nationwide TV at halftime during a Panthers game. Hope’s picture was flashed on the JumboTron screen at the game, resulting in a flood of donations to Make-a-Wish.

Since then, the Stout family has created MarchForthWithHope.com to bring comfort and financial assistance to other kids and families that are facing terminal illnesses. They’ve raised more than three million dollars to help these kids, and an inspirational movie is being produced about Hope’s amazing legacy.

You see, Hope’s story is far from over.

Last week we all were horrified by news of innocent children in Newtown, Connecticut, being slaughtered by a deranged young man. There’s no way to make any sense of such violence, so I won’t even try. But one thing I do know, the stories of these precious children will not end with this tragedy. For there is no pain so great, nor evil so deep, that God can’t turn it around to bring healing and transformation and hope.

Brace for the Final Kiss

My sweet mother passed away on October 18^th of last year. This is her blog…

I received a call from my mom one Monday evening a little over one year ago. In fact, she called me twice, since I missed her first call.

Mom didn’t have much on her mind—she just wanted to tell me she loved me. And I assured her that I loved her too.

I didn’t think our conversation was out of the ordinary until the following morning, when I received an urgent phone call from my brother John. “Mary,” he told me, “Mom’s in the hospital. She wasn’t breathing well in the morning, and Dad couldn’t get her to wake up. So he called the paramedics, and they took her to St. Ann’s Hospital.”

John called me a few hours later with a sobering update. “The doctors say she’s on the verge of dying—maybe in hours or maybe in a week. But there’s nothing more they can do for her.”

I packed up a few clothes and in a little over eight hours—1:30 a.m.—I was in Mom’s hospital room. Although she was lying unconscious and struggling to breath, her face glowed and her skin appeared remarkably smooth and clear, like that of a little child. Oxygen and morphine eased her pain and helped her find some solace.

But Mom was dying.

I felt so helpless. For long minutes, I had no words.

Finally, I pressed closer to the bed, caressed Mom’s face, gently arranged her hair, and grabbed her frail hand. Kissing her on the forehead, I said, “I love you, Mom.” And somehow I felt her loving me back.

I had no idea this would be the final kiss…but it was.

No sooner had I taken John home than we received the dreaded call that Mom was gone. She had passed into eternity mere moments after I kissed her goodnight.

When we got back to the hospital, Dad told us, “Mom had it harder than most, but she did the best she could. Now she can get some rest.”

Some rest. Truly that was what Mom needed. Finding deep rest for our souls is the great antidote to life’s annoying loose ends and lightning bolts. And this is exactly what Jesus promised those who come to Him: “You will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

In the weeks and months since Mom’s death, my mind has been a whirlwind of thoughts…pleasant memories of her life…how much I miss her...the brevity of life…and my own mortality.

I’ve remembered a song I wrote for a friend’s funeral many years before:

In the laughter of a baby…the sky so clear and blue…the gentle breezes blowing bring remembrance of you.

In the early hours at daybreak…with the passing of each day…in the quiet of the evening I can hear the angels say:

She’s in the hands of God now, in the hands of God, resting safely in His presence and His love.

With the changing of the seasons…realizing we’re apart…when I want to know the reasons for the void within my heart.

I can hear the angels say:

She’s in the hands of God now, in the hands of God, resting safely in His presence and His love.

I once heard someone say, “A goodbye is never painful unless you’re never going to say hello again.” Well, that’s simply not true. It has still been painful to say goodbye to my mom, even though I fully expect to say hello to her again in heaven one day.

But our heavenly hope does indeed help to make the loss easier to cope with. An unknown author made this profound observation: “Missing someone gets easier every day, because even though it’s one day further from the last time you saw each other, it’s one day closer to the next time you will.”

What a beautiful thought! Every day that passes, I’m one day closer to my reunion with Mom and other loved ones who’ve gone ahead of me.

Yes, goodbyes are painful. But when I think of my relationship with Mom, I remember this line from the musical “Annie”: “How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.”

And I’m so grateful to know that, for believers, a final kiss is never truly final. As an anonymous poet wrote:

Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end.

They simply mean I’ll miss you, Until we meet again.

I’ll miss you, Mom. But I know we’ll be together again soon—in a beautiful place where there’s no more pain, worry or death.

What about you?

•              Think about friends and loved ones who have died. Have you taken time to put them “in the hands of God” and resolve their passing in your heart? If not, pause for a few minutes to do so now.

•              We seldom know which kiss will be the “final” one for a loved one while on this earth. Make a list of friends and loved ones you need to express your love to.

A Personalized Christmas

I love the Christmas Season! It's the time of year when my home feels the coziest, has the most colorful decorations and smells the yummiest. And I love Christmas music, even if it does start at Thanksgiving or before! I grew up in the snow belt of northern Ohio so most of my early Christmases were snow white, filled with sled riding, ice skating, and sipping hot chocolate by the crackling fire place. It also was a great time for seeing distant cousins or aunts and uncles I had practically lost touch with during the year.

I am also reminded of so many memories from all the years spent raising our children. I even have fond memories of the times when I was a "Zombie Mom" by Christmas day, as I backed dozens of cookies and tried to make everything just perfect for my family. Now that the kids are grown, I'm both missing and enjoying my new "toy-less" holidays. 

I spent most of last Saturday pulling out our decorations and placing them in their spot. Some of them are hand-me-downs, others were gifts and some of them I bought purposefully for a specific place in my home.

This year I’m trying more than ever before to “personalize” my Christmas. Instead of just humming the Christmas carols mindlessly, I’m asking God to make each one truly real in my life. He not only wants to proclaim joy to THE world, He wants to bring joy to OUR personal world. And just as we celebrate His love for the world in sending His Son at Christmas, let’s remember how much He loves EACH of us personally.

This year I’m also reminded that Christmas not only is a great time for fond memories from the past, but it’s also a great time for anticipating the joys and challenges of another year. What are YOU looking forward to in your life in 2013?

What about you?

How are you going to enjoy the holiday this year?

Favorite Things

I love the song My Favorite Things, from “The Sound of Music.” I’ve found myself humming it lately, thinking about MY favorite things this Christmas season.

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens

Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens

Brown paper packages tied up with strings

These are a few of my favorite things

Cream colored ponies and crisp apple strudels

Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things

Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things

When the dog bites. When the bee stings. When I'm feeling sad

I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don't feel so bad

If my siblings and I could have added a verse to this song when we were kids, we would have also included some of our favorite toys. Let’s sing along together…

Troll Dolls & Barbies & EZ Bake Ovens

Legos & Twister & Rockem ~ Sockem Robots

Etch-A-Sketch & Hot Wheels & Lite Brite & Nerf

These are a few of my favorite toys!

So what about you? Hopefully you’re not still obsessed with Troll Dolls and Barbies. But what do you truly value in your life? The holiday season is such a great time to reflect on this question and prepare our hearts for a great new ahead.