Trish Lawson's Reflections

The Christmas season has arrived, and all the feelings of the season are blooming. The excitement and exhaustion of decorating of the house and outdoor lights going up, the anxiety of shopping for everyone’s “perfect” gift, tireless hours of baking, relaxing to favorite Christmas movies and classic songs and for some, the feeling of grief for those who won’t be here to celebrate.

For me, I feel all this each year. If John had his way, Christmas would arrive on November 1st (I do pump the brakes on that, I know…Mrs. Scrooge) and would go clear through to March! He is Mr. Christmas in the Lawson house, and I do appreciate his enthusiasm. For so many years, I spent so much time and energy on decorating, shopping, and baking that I feel it left little time for me to really focus on why we celebrate, who we celebrate. 

This year is a bittersweet one for me. In August, I lost my Nonnie, best friend of all 47 years of my life and the grandma I blogged about last December. As difficult as this is, I find comfort in the fact that my Nonnie is pain free and safe in the arms of the very child we celebrate every December 25th and that there will come a time when Grandma Janet will join them. 

Once I came back to church (this church to be accurate), I slowly began to reevaluate how and why we celebrate this child every year, knowing that his birth set all our lives in motion and that God was already thinking of us long before we were here. My faith has only gotten stronger the more I deepen my connection through worship, my Wednesday morning Bible study with some of the best ladies I know, teaching and searching for new and inventive ways to teach the younger generation coming up here at FPCV.

Whatever the feelings of the season are that you are experiencing, know it is all ok to feel what you are feeling and when it all seems to be too much, turn your attention back to that sweet baby boy that was a gift to all of us.

This Christmas, enjoy the twinkling of lights, gentle falling snow, the sweet smell of cookies, the carols that make you smile and the people who warm your heart. For those who are struggling with loss and sadness, you are not alone, you are loved and being held in prayer.

Merry Christmas to the most incredible family my family will ever experience -- we love you all!

Trish