Hi everyone. Happy Tuesday. Today’s “What Christmas means to me” is from Jamie Simmerman of Blue Duck Copy. Enjoy!
Christmas Hope
When I was a child, Christmas Eve meant traveling to my dad’s hometown to celebrate with my entire dysfunctional family. My grandparents’ house was nestled at the center of a community of less than 100 people. The highlight of the town was the nearby lake and the General Store’s handmade ice cream. The town wasn’t even big enough to qualify for a stoplight.
My family is more than a little unusual.
My grandfather was big and boisterous; my grandmother was petite with hair that stood straight off her head. Grandma purposely burnt everything she served to my grandfather, and he turned his hearing aids off every time she began to speak.
Fistfights in the kitchen broke out often, where my grandmother would inevitably jump on grandpa’s back and pull his hair. They would cuss like sailors and wish horrible diseases on each other at will- an odd couple if one ever existed. Together, they had 5 children, yet they both claimed neither ever wanted any kids. Still, the whole family gathered every year to make each other miserable for the holidays.
“Merry Christmas you worthless piece of dung.”
So off to grandma’s house we go.
We would cram in whatever junker car my dad was driving and rumble over the back roads, the trunk loaded with presents and food. Most years, it would rain giant fluffy snowflakes that glittered in the headlights and smacked into the windshield like tiny shooting stars. A beautiful yet beguiling prelude to what awaited.
As we unloaded the loot from the trunk, you could hear the uproar inside through the thick old front door. Grandma’s house was far from clean on the best of days, but add an extra 10 adults and 9 grandkids, and the clutter and chaos grew to overwhelming proportions.
Let the chaos begin.
Stepping inside the door, you would find nine different arguments happening in the same room, kids playing tag in the gigantic old rooms of the house, and my grandfather pushing his latest batch of fudge like a drug dealer with a fresh group of junkies. Curse words and insults could be heard every couple of seconds, and nothing was considered sacred or off-limits. If we’d had any close neighbors, or even a local police station, the cops surely would have been called.
Can I get a get out of jail free pass, please?
As the midnight hour drew near, a few brave souls would seek solace in the peace and quiet outside the house. The single streetlight cast a yellow glow as fluttering snowflakes drifted silently from the heavens, and the accumulated fresh snow muffled both footsteps and voices as we climbed the hill to the old church perched at the edge of town.
The parishioners provided a candlelight service every Christmas Eve and the warmth and quiet of the church was irresistible after the cold trek through the bitter blowing wind and the deafening roar of the party below.
Years later, the words spoken during those late night services would be presented again with the same promise, peace, and warmth, yet I would finally understand their meaning.
Christmas Present
Now, Christmas no longer means dreaded family get-togethers, humiliating conversations, and sporadic bouts of violence.
With the birth of a single baby boy, I now have hope. There is healing for my scars, rest when I need it, and an unconditional love that erases the dysfunction that has plagued my family for generations. That baby has taken the splintered ugly shards of my soul and left something beautiful in its place that I could never have created.
For me, Christmas means hope. 2000 years ago, in the basement of an old watchtower situated in a field near Bethlehem, a tiny baby boy was born in a sheep pen and placed in a feeding trough. That seemingly insignificant event brought the hope of the Messiah to the local shepherds, and it brings hope to all who seek Him today.
Merry Christmas,
Jamie
About Sean Platt
blessed peace, congrats on being able to redefine your Christmas.
blessed peace, congrats on being able to redefine your Christmas.
Merry Christmas Sean, to you and your family. And, thank you, once again, for sharing Jamie here today.
Jamie, what Christmas present represents to you, it’s so awesome. That one birth, when we really see what that moment brought into this world – and when we let that moment into our lives today – is powerful and comforting beyond measure. May your Christmas be filled with all the wonders the season has to offer, and including the real moments you’ll have with your family and all those you love…
Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
Merry Christmas Sean, to you and your family. And, thank you, once again, for sharing Jamie here today.
Jamie, what Christmas present represents to you, it’s so awesome. That one birth, when we really see what that moment brought into this world – and when we let that moment into our lives today – is powerful and comforting beyond measure. May your Christmas be filled with all the wonders the season has to offer, and including the real moments you’ll have with your family and all those you love…
Lances last blog post..Sunday Thought For The Day
I think He invented forshadowing. Laid in a feeding trough for all to eat of Him, wrapped in swaddling clothes at his birth signifying the whole span of life. It is rather interesting if you look at the bigger picture. Great post Jamie. I am glad you are feeling better. Merry Christmas and here is to a very happy and exciting New Year.
Sals last blog post..Ain’t He Very Sorry
I think He invented forshadowing. Laid in a feeding trough for all to eat of Him, wrapped in swaddling clothes at his birth signifying the whole span of life. It is rather interesting if you look at the bigger picture. Great post Jamie. I am glad you are feeling better. Merry Christmas and here is to a very happy and exciting New Year.
Sals last blog post..Ain’t He Very Sorry
You’ve definitely earned your hope. It is a wonderful feeling to come out of a dysfunctional family to a peaceful place of your own.
Beth Partins last blog post..Two Conversations in Denver
You’ve definitely earned your hope. It is a wonderful feeling to come out of a dysfunctional family to a peaceful place of your own.
Beth Partins last blog post..Two Conversations in Denver
Jamie, that was so very prettily done. After the clenching of my heart, my entire being relaxed right into peace. Thank you. I wish you a beautiful Christmas holiday. ~ Julie
Julies last blog post..The Script
Jamie, that was so very prettily done. After the clenching of my heart, my entire being relaxed right into peace. Thank you. I wish you a beautiful Christmas holiday. ~ Julie
Julies last blog post..The Script
Wow, I hadn’t even realized this had gone up yet! Sean got sneaky on me! ;)
To those who don’t know, this was written with the flu, and it’s still hanging on, but losing its grip. :) I had promised Sean a guest post, and wanted to hold true.
Trina,
Blessed peace to you,too. It is wonderful to finally have peace, but it is a continual process. That dysfunction can still sneak up when you least expect it. :)
Lance,
Christmas really is one of my favorite times of the year. Not the shopping, and busyness, but the wonderful cheer and peace that this season brings. This time of year, you can share coffee and cookies with a complete stranger and smile at everyone you meet. I try to do that all year long, but only at Christmastime do I not look like a nut. :)
Sal,
I agree with the foreshadowing thought. Something for everyone. And thanks for the compliment and the get well wishes. Merry Christmas.
Beth,
I’m not sure I earned hope, but I am certainly blessed with it. In a world that predicts that I would continue in the footsteps of the generations before me, I am stepping out in faith and saying “Not me. Not this time. And in response, Jesus meets me after that first step and leads the way. ”
Julie,
Thank you for your beautiful compliment. I hope that peace remains with you, and I pray your Christmas brings hope, love, and joy to you and your family.
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Is it hot in here?
Wow, I hadn’t even realized this had gone up yet! Sean got sneaky on me! ;)
To those who don’t know, this was written with the flu, and it’s still hanging on, but losing its grip. :) I had promised Sean a guest post, and wanted to hold true.
Trina,
Blessed peace to you,too. It is wonderful to finally have peace, but it is a continual process. That dysfunction can still sneak up when you least expect it. :)
Lance,
Christmas really is one of my favorite times of the year. Not the shopping, and busyness, but the wonderful cheer and peace that this season brings. This time of year, you can share coffee and cookies with a complete stranger and smile at everyone you meet. I try to do that all year long, but only at Christmastime do I not look like a nut. :)
Sal,
I agree with the foreshadowing thought. Something for everyone. And thanks for the compliment and the get well wishes. Merry Christmas.
Beth,
I’m not sure I earned hope, but I am certainly blessed with it. In a world that predicts that I would continue in the footsteps of the generations before me, I am stepping out in faith and saying “Not me. Not this time. And in response, Jesus meets me after that first step and leads the way. ”
Julie,
Thank you for your beautiful compliment. I hope that peace remains with you, and I pray your Christmas brings hope, love, and joy to you and your family.
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..Is it hot in here?
Amazing isn’t it? When I think of the God of creation, the God of love, the Alpha and the Omega, to even think just a little that He made a way for me, for you. I can’t imagine. Wow, what a God who would come into this world, be one of us, die as our sacrifice and defeat death, just for me, just for you. Amazing ……amazing. Christmas is hope. You are so right, hope.
Merry Christmas.
Amazing isn’t it? When I think of the God of creation, the God of love, the Alpha and the Omega, to even think just a little that He made a way for me, for you. I can’t imagine. Wow, what a God who would come into this world, be one of us, die as our sacrifice and defeat death, just for me, just for you. Amazing ……amazing. Christmas is hope. You are so right, hope.
Merry Christmas.
You paint a picture with words so well. Merry Christmas, Jamie – truly. *hugs*
James Chartrand – Men with Penss last blog post..TweetDeck: Stacking Your Deck with New Tools
You paint a picture with words so well. Merry Christmas, Jamie – truly. *hugs*
James Chartrand – Men with Penss last blog post..TweetDeck: Stacking Your Deck with New Tools
Hi Laurie,
The Christmas story is so often trivialized and commercialized that for many of us, it just becomes old and trite. If you sit down and read the original story, it brings new life and meaning to those old images. It truly is amazing. Thanks so much for stopping by!
James,
Dude, thanks. A few flakes of your genius dust must have rubbed off. :) Merry Christmas to you and the little ones, too.
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..What Christmas Means
Hi Laurie,
The Christmas story is so often trivialized and commercialized that for many of us, it just becomes old and trite. If you sit down and read the original story, it brings new life and meaning to those old images. It truly is amazing. Thanks so much for stopping by!
James,
Dude, thanks. A few flakes of your genius dust must have rubbed off. :) Merry Christmas to you and the little ones, too.
Jamie Simmermans last blog post..What Christmas Means
That was wonderful, indeed. Merry Christmas, Jamie. James is right, you painted a great picture.
That was wonderful, indeed. Merry Christmas, Jamie. James is right, you painted a great picture.
Well hello there Dave,
Thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. I hope you and little E and the wife have a wonderful Christmas. You’re gonna have such fun with all that wrapping paper flying this year. :)
Well hello there Dave,
Thanks for the compliment, I appreciate it. I hope you and little E and the wife have a wonderful Christmas. You’re gonna have such fun with all that wrapping paper flying this year. :)
As always, Jamie, your words convey so very much. And with the flu! You don’t need to borrow James’ genius dust. You have plenty of your own. :)
B J Keltzs last blog post..Take A Breather in the Holiday Crush
As always, Jamie, your words convey so very much. And with the flu! You don’t need to borrow James’ genius dust. You have plenty of your own. :)
B J Keltzs last blog post..Take A Breather in the Holiday Crush
Hi B J,
Aw, how sweet. Thanks for the puffing up. :) But I can use all the genius dust I can find some days.
Hi B J,
Aw, how sweet. Thanks for the puffing up. :) But I can use all the genius dust I can find some days.