Contentment at Christmas

Dear Daughters,

It was two weeks before Christmas and I didn’t even have my wreath up yet.  Thanksgiving decorations were sitting around waiting to go into the storage box, then heading down for the basement.  The Christmas tree was still in its box.  I cancelled my piano student’s Christmas recital, and everything is different this year, not at all going as planned.

That’s probably been the story of every one of you sometime or other – we all have plans for our lives, and rarely do they go according to our idea of how they should.  Sometimes there are disappointments, sometimes unexpected joys, sickness, heartache and grief, while it seems like the rest of the world is joyful and festive. 

It would be easy for me to dwell on what I don’t have – energy because of ongoing covid fatigue, the loss of a beautiful evening of Christmas music from the students I love, the extra work it takes to care for dad, missing out on events I had hoped to be a part of.  And to be truthful, I have been disappointed, sometimes angry and frustrated about how drastically our lives have changed. 

But after grieving my losses, I have chosen instead to dwell on what I can do – call up a home health care service and ask for help from a woman with lots of energy, enjoy watching and listening to The Messiah, ask for help from some grandchildren and their parents, hire a snowplowing service to clear our driveway this winter.  Dad has always been able to snow blow and shovel our driveway and sidewalks, but there comes a time to pass the work on to someone else. 

I’ve always loved the verse, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  But it wasn’t until a few years ago that I found that verse in context.  Paul, who penned these words as he was sitting in a Roman prison, wrote the following rather astounding sentences:

…I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.  I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…

Philippians 4:11-13

Contentment is the main subject, and suffering can be our greatest teacher.  While we have no control over whether or not we will contract an illness, we can learn to decide how we live during that time – be it a short time or long.  We can choose to lament why me? and see the unfairness of it all, or we can come to the point of surrendering the circumstances of our lives to Jesus and finding contentment in whatever comes our way.  It seems counterintuitive, but contentment is a by-product of the strength Jesus gives us. 

 I will be honest, there were a few days during our covid adventure that I was not content.  When I first learned Dad was coming home and I was still struggling with the virus, I was frustrated – How can I take care of him, an oxygen tank, a walker, a back brace… when I’m only able to be off the couch a few hours a day?  But after I spoke about all my inadequacies and irritation to Jesus (He’s usually the first one I vent to) I found out that a few hours a day off the couch was all I needed.  Friends and family brought food, nurses were nearby virtually, and we both started improving slowly but surely. 

I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy.

I spill out all my complaints before him, and spell out my troubles in detail.

Psalm 142:1-2

When we come to the end of our own strength and cry out for help, He often sends assistance through other people. So much food was provided that we had to put some in the freezer for a time, young and energetic children and grandchildren helped move around furniture and put up decorations, assisted with the outdoor work we were unable to do, and now… all is well.

Thank you all for generously giving to us,

Love, Mom