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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Happy, Merry

Happy Holidays. Merry Christmas. The pressure is on to be happy, merry, and bright. Shiny happy people all lined up in front of a sparkling Christmas tree.

One of my sisters-in-law is coping with the reality of a mother suddenly hospitalized with lots of pain and talk of major surgery. Another sister-in-law is preparing for her recovering-from-a-stroke mother to move into her home and change the fabric of their family. One of my employees is preparing to bury his father this Christmas season, and hopes that his brother will make it to the New Year. An old friend, on top of having a way-too-young husband in a care home because of MS, has been off work for a year because of thyroid problems and major depression.

Happy and Merry probably won’t be in their vocabulary this Christmas.

None of these are really my sadnesses to bear, and yet I feel a little heavy this morning. I'm looking for an alternative greeting for "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays". Maybe just "peace".

2 comments:

Linda said...

I hear you.

Pamela said...

this evening some friends were over - and one told us of a family that her office was going to provide for at Christmas

the father deemed disabled from knee accident and has returned to school for retraining.
the mother recently laid off for cut backs.
(Five kids. 2 autistic boys are twins)
the mother finds lump in breast.
Meanwhile, #1 son has sports accident. Surgery.

#2 son complains of urinary problem. Has to have surgery.
Doctor finds tumor. Yes Cancer.

Same day, mother gets biospy report. Cancer in breast.

If you wonder, no.. their last name wasn't Job. but it should be.


Meanwhile family loses house.