A CHRISTMAS STORY - A Story of Faith, Hope and Belief

Nancy sat quietly on her kitchen chair. Her face screamed out for the many problems that seemed to be swirling about her, and with only 2 days remaining before Christmas day there seem to be little hope of resolution.

She knew only a miracle could save this, her special day when her family will be coming together, as they do each year, to celebrate together, pray together, to thank God together and to share their good fortunes together. Indeed, this was the very time that the whole world, Christian and non-Christian alike, come together with faith and with goodwill to pray for love and peace to all.

The last few years Nancy thought, were good ones for her and her family. All of her children had been doing well in their work and with their lives. They were contented with what they were able to achieve during the previous year and they all looked forward to more of the same in the coming year. These Christmas Eve gatherings were always happy and joyous events as everyone gathered around the Christmas tree in the living room.

 Nancy's Christmas routine began each year on the day after Thanksgiving when he will visit Jeremiah’s lot and carefully select a 6 ft. tree. She will then take it home, set it up in the living room and then slowly and painstakingly decorate it with all those ornaments, figurines and crystal pieces that she had procured over the years and very carefully stored for this occasion. Each one had its own special meaning for her and her family, and she would readily recall the story for each as they were hung on the tree.

         After she had completed decorating the tree to her satisfaction, she would finish off by placing her “guardian angel” on the very top. And after this was done, on every occasion, she would always close her eyes and take just a moment to recall that fateful day more than 30 year ago when she found her ‘angel’ in the Target store on the day after Christmas. It apparently had been discarded and thrown out with the thrash on the floor.  But as Nancy looked at her, the angel actually appeared to be shining even brighter than the sun itself. She still swears that the angel smiled at her and flashed her wings as soon as Nancy held her as if to suggest that both belonged to each other. The angel has been with Nancy from that day onward!

         But there was more to this story. On the way home, her baby son, Jim who was only 5 years old at the time, became desperately ill as they drove along the crowded highway on a dismal, stormy day. She was alone with her 4 young children, all if whom were as frightened as she was. She was desperate, almost panic stricken feeling the world closing on her.  All she could think of doing was to pull off the road, and pray that some kind guardian angel will come to help her.

         As she came to a stop on the side of the road, she remembers engaging the flashing lights, closing her eyes, and praying for a miracle to help her out of this dilemma. On opening her eyes again, she swears she saw the little angel smiling at her so reassuringly that she felt safe and secure. At that very moment, there was a knock at the window and an offer to help. It was from a doctor who had seen the flashing lights and stopped to help. From then onward for more than 3 decades, Nancy knew that her guardian angel was always with her, ready to find help if ever help was needed.

         For all the subsequent years that followed, the family prospered, the children grew up, left home, went to college, obtained degrees and went to work. The home was, like so many other homes, full of love, joy and happiness, interspersed with short moments of illnesses, conflicts and occasionally, disappointments, that were quickly resolved. Through all these years her Christmas festivities remained unchanged, and there was always a fully decorated Christmas tree with the Angel guardian proudly standing on top, overlooking everyone and everything.

But everyone knew that this year was going to be quite different, for as fate will have it, the arrows of misfortune had struck each one, on more than one occasion, and the resulting disappointments, anguish and pain could be felt in every word spoken, and every sigh elicited. Each one of the children nursed their own wounds and try as they could, the effects just radiated to all:

Jim, her young son who, until recently overflowed with confidence and looked forward to the day soon when he will be able to procure his Ferrari and take her for a spin, is now fighting for his survival as a result of the draconian restrictions laid down by the current economy.

 Linda, the eldest daughter whose meteoric rise in the company’s hierarchy has been suddenly stunted by a new short-sighted administrator, determined to bring in his own people.

Lucy, the determined, confident professional who has suddenly been burdened by events that were well beyond her control or her expertise, and for the first time was feeling threatened and vulnerable.

Lara, the youngest daughter, who lived all her life as a free spirit traveling and doing what she pleased, as she pleased, and always with outstanding success, found herself locked into a regimen which was stifling her imagination.

It was against this background that Nancy, burdened by a heavy heart, set about her Christmas tree preparations. Her routine was unchanged. She visited Jeremiah’s, chose her tree and brought it home. With the help of Jim, she brought out her decorations and meticulously placed them on the tree, making sure that each one was readily visible and identifiable. All the while, as was her habit over all these years, she played Christmas songs for all to hear, and to set the mood for the season of happiness and goodwill.

She was in the process of fitting her angel on the top of the completed tree when something happened that blew her away and sent her mind reeling back to that unforgettable day more than 30 years ago following her very first encounter with her guardian angel.

The mood was somber as she listened to Luther Vandross,’ 1995 masterpiece: “This is Christmas Day,” and to his advice which seemed to be directed to her. He began the song with these words:

“Don’t be discouraged; don’t be dismayed.
There's hope for all in this world,

 Cause this is Christmas day.
Say A little prayer for the world.”

At that very moment as she stepped down to admire her work, she noticed that the angel, now safely in place, seem to have come alive again before her very eyes. There was an explosion of colors as her wings lit up and seemed to move with them. She was certain that the angel, with her sweet, serene smile was looking directly at her and telling her, as she had done before, that all will be well.

 And, like that previous occasion more than 3 decades ago, Nancy felt a wave of confidence and reassurance, that all will indeed be well. For her special guardian angel had promised this; and she has never failed to deliver. This was all she needed to be convinced that in her home, as in the past years, another Christmas miracle was about to take place, and that the whole world will be rejoicing the Birth if The Savior.

 And as every one gathered around the tree on that wonderful night to share in the glad tidings and to look to the new year with renewed hope, Nancy was moved to sing out the final verse of Vandross song:

“This is Christmas Let the world sing.
Let our soul begin to heal,

Hallelujah this is Christmas,
And with love we can begin today “

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