“The RoseBouquet”

If you had to choose which Christmas problem to have, which one would you take?

I got to thinking on Sunday that there are a number of different kinds of Christmas problems, and maybe the one I’ve had is not nearly so bad compared to what others go through.

On Saturday evening I dropped off a basket of goodies for a a single woman connected to our mission. She is so shy we seldom see her, but when I saw her living condition, her health condition and learned that she would spend Christmas all alone, I realized that loneliness is one Christmas problem I don’t really have to deal with.

Are you going to be alone this Christmas?

Sunday morning I sat beside a woman whose house was filling up with people, and she was almost overwhelmed at all the meals she was going to be preparing for the rest of this week. More were flying in that day. There’s another Christmas problem I don’t have - though I’ve had a house full of guests too in Christmases past.

Are you a harried hostess or innkeeper?

In the aisle I met another woman who had been in and out of the hospital all the previous week, and expected that much the same would happen this week. Her health is extremely poor! It’s hard to plan anything even for later in the same day, so she didn’t know when she would spend Christmas with her children and grandchildren. (She appears to be a couple of decades younger than me). My Mom’s health was up and down like that too. But that is not a Christmas problem I have this year.

Are you struggling with strong attacks on your body?

There are others who have family members that will not come join the family gathering because they DO NOT want to come home. This causes a very unique ache and pain in the hearts of those waiting at home around the big cold gap.

Are you waiting for a prodigal to come home?

Thinking about people flying far away like my neighbours I realize that weather can trap people in an airport for long hours or days. This can be a very frustrating problem for Christmas travellers.

Are you storm-stayed, or held up in your travels?

Or, there is my little problem of not having enough time to finish all the gifts I’d like to make, or running out of time to accomplish all I’d like to do. Perhaps your shortage of time is much more severe. I don’t want to belittle that. But suddenly my problem sees quite minor compared to what others are going through this lovely, colourful Christmas season. I can always change my to-do list and fix my problem in an instant.

Are you hampered by time constraints for your to-do list?

If everyone is bound to have at least one Christmas problem, which one would you choose? Maybe the one you have is not as terrible as you has first thought. May you be able to concentrate on the true meaning and value of the message of Christmas despite - and perhaps even because of the Christmas problem you have to cope with this year.

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