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I knew Christmas in my first appointment would be difficult. No, not because of the rigors and responsibility of Christmas ministry – kettles, hampers, community plans, corps celebrations. On the contrary, it was these traditions that helped me keep my mind off of the fact that I wasn’t going to be ‘home for the holidays’. I expected there to be sadness in my heart as I coped with feelings of separation from my family, but didn’t anticipate the depth in which I would experience these feelings.

Earlier in December my parents had sent all our gifts in a large moving box which I left unopened until closer to Christmas day. One morning, after getting our children off to school I decided take advantage of the quietness of home and work on a sermon. Rather than inspiring creative, homiletical thoughts, the stillness and silence from our empty house drew me to the sealed box containing our Christmas presents; as my contemplation a.k.a. procrastination continued, I thought it was as good as time as any to open the box and place the gifts under our tree. Opening the box however, was like opening the floodgates to my sad soul, as each gift emerged my tears fell more swiftly. At that moment I was lonely, and missing my parents immensely. I was grieving the loss of a lifetime of Christmas traditions with them and until that moment never realized the extent of their influence on my own Christmas experience.

That was 7 years ago, and since then I have come to embrace a new understanding of tradition and more specifically, family. As I reflect on the Christmas narrative (Matt. 2:1-11; Luke 2:1-16) I suspect that Mary and Joseph may have experienced something of the same sadness and loneliness that first Christmas, just as I have shared about. That in the midst of a joyous occasion, the birth of their son, the Messiah, they were separated from their familiar surroundings and family support as they brought a new life into the world. Imagine being alone at such a time…but wait, God’s word says that “[he] sets the lonely in families” (Ps. 68:6) The people who were drawn to Mary, Joseph and their newborn Son was not that of grandparents, aunts, uncles and neighbours as would be expected, but rather strangers from the fields and foreigners from the East.

As Jesus ministry unfolded, He continued to redefine the understanding of family, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” he rhetorically asked the crowd around him. Jesus answer, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matt. 12:48,49)

In addition to our children, the smiling faces sitting around our Christmas table changes each year. This is part of our new family tradition that I treasure.

May you experience the wonderful blessing of God’s presence in your Christmas celebrations – in whatever form they take.