A Christmas
Reflection
This year it was a little harder to leave work on
Christmas Eve, for most of my patients it is their last Christmas they will celebrate
with loved ones. For a lot of children
it will be the last one they have with one of their parents.
It reminded me of the last Christmas I spent with my
Dad. I can still recall some memories of
the day. It was 35 years ago, I was 12
years old and my brother, Rod was 8. We
woke up early, probably around 6.30, the house was quiet, as we went downstairs
and sat down in the lounge, in front of our little Christmas tree. We knew better not to disturb our
parents. Dad had been sick for so long,
and so we had learnt to be extra quiet, and patient. We quietly, planned out which presents we
would open and in what order. It was a
lean year, hospital bills and limited income meant presents were down to 4 each. We knew one was clothes, we always had one
with clothes. One was a board game we
were sure of that, one was usually something we had asked for, and then there
was a gift from our Aunty Joan.
After sitting quietly for what seemed like ages, we
thought maybe we should make a little noise, so they knew we were waiting,
after all it was Christmas Day. So we
began shaking the boxes, which we suspected had our games in. Mum did emerge, and we asked her if we could
open the presents. But she said no, she
said we could have some breakfast while we waited for Dad to get up. There was such a routine for Dad getting up,
he had very advanced illness and had become quite frail. He shuffled to the bathroom, and then there
was the insulin and blood sugar testing to be done, and he needed something to
eat.
Rod and I continue to sit in the lounge room. We loved our Dad too much to ask him to
hurry. By about 8 am, he was sitting in
his chair in the lounge and it was time to open up the presents. In a few minutes they were opened, I remember
I got 2 board games, one was Mystery Date and the other was Monopoly. Rod got Chopper Strike. We were happy with our gifts. By 9am, Dad was back resting in bed.
When I think back on it now, I see so clearly he was
dying, and yet he made a huge effort to spend that last Christmas watching us
open our gifts. As children, we knew our
Dad was very sick, but didn’t appreciate it was our last one together. I am so glad, that we waited to open our few
presents. What seemed like a long time
from first waking up that Christmas morning was in reality such a short
time. I know my brother and I would
gladly trade every other Christmas gift we have ever received to still have Dad
in our lives. For me, it was the last
best childhood Christmas, it was never the same after that year. In fact, until I had my own children, I found
it a sad time of year, with a place at the table always missing. Still do some
years, this is one of them.
Memories……
This year, as you celebrate Christmas, I encourage you
to hug your kids and grandchildren and parents if they are still in your lives,
just one extra time. Presents are soon
forgotten, and often discarded; but relationships are the precious gift God
gives to us for a season of time. Never
take it for granted, because one day, it will only be a memory.
Have a blessed Christmas.
Decima
