Why I love Christmas – Friends and Family

Happy Christmas Dear Reader,

Today is a big day.  In just a few hours friends and family will begin arriving for our annual Christmas open house.  For eleven years save one we have hosted this event so that we get to see our friends during the Christmas season. 

I always take time the morning of this event to think about friends lost and distant.  I have lost friends along the journey that I remember and miss.  Some have reached the clearing at the end of the path ahead of me.  They are probably warning Jesus that I am coming and suggesting he reconsider the whole idea of letting me in.

Some I have lost due to anger, enmity, or un-forgiveness.  These losses haunt me and pray for the friends involved.  Some of the losses are my fault and that hurts me the most.  Eventually, however, all strife will be gone and I will have peace with these lost friends.  Until then I must become a better man so that I remain worthy of their friendship.

I will spend the morning prepping food.  I will rest for a shore bit and dress.  Then I will spend the day greeting and chatting people I know and love.  Every year I meet a few new people who are invited by one of my children or are a plus one to someone invited.  I have met some very good friends this way.

The house is decorated.  Some things already simmer on the stove.  For the moment I am focused on how blessed I am to have the friends that I have.  I am sure that most of them do not know how much I love and value them.  This is one of the ways I get to tell them.  Christmas allows me to show them a few hours of love and this is precious to me.

The family that will be here is precious as well.  I love them more than I can express and Christmas is a chance to show them that I see what they need and will try to give it to them.  This party is where that giving begins. 

Later this evening I will sit in my comfy chair like pigs in clover and ponder the day.  I will be tired and drowsy.  I will think about the people I saw and the people I did not.  I will ponder the friends who are too far away to be here but whom I miss dearly.  I will whisper a prayer of thanks for them all. Then I will follow that with a prayer for the day to arrive quickly when we can all be together to celebrate Christ and our friendship in him.   That is the day I try to catch a glimpse of each year with this celebration.   I long for it with all that I am.

Last Man at the Party – Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull)

Sister Bridget by the stair; a glass of wine and she's almost there.

Cousin Jimmy at the door; another beer and he's on the floor.

Friends and neighbours come around,

waste no time we're heaven-bound.

But not before we raise a glass to good camaraderie.

Stinky Joe from down the street fell right over his own three feet.

He's doubled up in the outside loo, to taste again the devil's brew.

Friends and neighbours come around,

waste no time we're heaven-bound.

But not before we raise a glass to good camaraderie.

So make yourselves jolly under mistletoe, holly and ivy.

Get to it - and be in good cheer.

And when it's all over... pigs gone to clover -

Will the last man at the party wish me a happy New Year.

The house is jumping, suppers up. Curried goat in a paper cup.

Forks of plastic, knives of tin... who cares what state the goat is in.

Someone with the gift of song

has brought his pal to sing along.

Now they're turning up old Frank Sinatra on the stereo.

So make yourselves jolly under mistletoe, holly and ivy.

Get to it - and be in good cheer.

And when it's all over... pigs gone to clover -

Will the last man at the party wish me a happy New Year?

Sister Bridget by the stair; a glass of wine and she's almost there.

Cousin Jimmy at the door; another beer and he's on the floor.

Friends and neighbours come around,

waste no time we're heaven-bound.

But not before we raise a glass to good camaraderie.

So make yourselves jolly under mistletoe, holly and ivy.

Get to it - and be in good cheer.

And when it's all over... pigs gone to clover -

Will the last man at the party wish me a happy New Year?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store." 

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