Letter from the Author
Dear Reader,
Have you ever spent a Christmas that wasn’t all that festive? That was our Christmas in 2012. After my twenty-year-old daughter suffered through a series of increasingly bad bouts of strep throat, it was decided that her tonsils needed to come out during Christmas break.
She had the procedure on December 14, right after she finished finals. We had been warned that the recovery might not be easy for her. In truth, it was very difficult. As the days passed and we all grew exhausted, I stopped thinking about Christmas and only thought about taking care of her.
She was better by Christmas Eve, but only marginally so. My husband, son, and I went to church on Christmas Eve but came home directly afterward since my daughter was still in too much pain for us to leave her alone at the house for long.
On Christmas morning we opened the presents that I had bought months before, wrapped, and put under the tree. Then my son left for his girlfriend’s house—her family was hosting a lovely dinner. Tom and I? We ate soup and sandwiches and continued to hope and pray that our daughter would feel better soon. And then . . . right around New Year’s Day, she did. Just in time to go back to college.
After she left, I put away the decorations and reflected on the holiday. For a moment, I was even tempted to call it the Christmas That Wasn’t! And then I remembered that Christmas isn’t about parties and being around lots of people. Or about perfect decorations or lovely meals. It really is all about remembering a baby being born in a lowly manger . . . and everyone celebrating the miracle of His birth.
I have a feeling we might always remember the Christmas of 2012 with a bit of fondness and maybe a grimace, too. I know I never want to open a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup again! But I bet years from now Tom and I will probably smile when we remember that that Christmas reminded us that the holiday is really all about love and faith and hope. Last Christmas we certainly had those in abundance! If those things are present, not much else is needed.
I sincerely hope you enjoyed Peace. I loved writing about two couples experiencing a somewhat difficult Christmas Day, and becoming happier and stronger because of it.
Wherever you are, I hope you will have a Merry Christmas! And if it doesn’t happen to be quite so “merry,” I hope you will find comfort in celebrating the joy of His birth!
With my thanks to you,
Shelley Shepard Gray