My Christmas Song
It was a long three-hour drive, through the dark and snowy countryside of farmland in Northern Minnesota. I sat in the back seat of our family car wondering what I would see, what I would feel, and how I would be able to give this unusual Christmas gift to my family.
This Christmas Day was different and everyone in my family could feel it. It wasn’t long before we pulled into the outskirts of a small town that barely lit up the night sky from the distance.
As my dad parked the car outside what appeared
to be an empty building, I recognized familiar cars all around us. I stepped out of the car onto the snow-laden
ground and took a deep breath as my lungs filled with rigid air that was blowing
down from Canada. As I made my way with my family up the sidewalk I
was greeted somberly by a sign hanging above the sliding doors; it read:
Hospital.
As we entered, the
warm glow of Christmas lights gave life to the environment in which we now inhabited.
When we rounded the corner and walked down the long hallway towards my aunt’s
room, we were welcomed with open arms by family and the aroma of a full Christmas
buffet lining the hallway.
After the greetings
were complete I stepped quietly into the dimly lit hospital room. There was
gentle Christmas music playing on the radio.
Family members began to enter the room as I made my way to the left side
of her hospital bed. Within moments every chair and space available were filled
in this one-bed hospital room. My mother reached in front of a small
illuminated Christmas tree and inserted a CD into a compact disc player.
As music filled the
room, nervousness began to fill my heart. I brought my attention to my loved
one lying in the bed and looked at her with my heart breaking. She was so small and frail.
I began my song.
As the notes and
chords filled the room, emotions of those listening began to rise. Tears
trickled slowly down faces and noses reddened. I struggled to give voice
to the lyrics…was losing the strength to continue... My aunt reached out to me
and quietly said, “Its okay, Meg. I love you. ”
I closed my eyes and
continued to sing. As I sang I reflected on the love that was filling this
room, I was overcome with the love of Jesus Christ and the blessing of my
family surrounding me.
I could feel it; the Holy Spirit was there, just as alive and real as anyone else in the room. Our Savior who came to earth as a baby two
thousand years ago was among us, in that small and crowded hospital room.
As my song ended and the music faded, the Holy Spirit
lingered in the room like a warm blanket. My family cried and held each other
through last year’s Christmas celebration. It wasn't my voice or the song I
chose to sing that marked the change in the room that Christmas Day; but the
presence of Jesus through the Holy Spirit.
Although
my aunt is not present here on earth with me and my family this holiday season,
I find comfort in knowing she is celebrating
with Jesus today in heaven. My family held each other close last Christmas, and I hope you also will hold your families
close this year. Look for Jesus in every tradition and bring His love into the
center of your celebrations. Merry
Christmas
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