Christmas Calamities

Mary Understood

Are you Dreaming of a White Christmas?

     Perhaps the famous song lyrics conjure an image of the perfect cozy mountain cabin.  Maybe a crackling fire fills the room with a warm glow. There might be sounds of laughter and the aroma of a roasting turkey filling the air. You admire the sparkling lights twinkling on an enormous fir tree. Across the room, obedient children dressed in their holiday finery are listening for sleigh bells to announce an anticipated visitor.

But let’s get real here.

     While sleigh bells used to announce an approaching visitor, they also served as a warning to travelers. Someone else was on your trail, and you need to be alert and ready to alter your planned path.

On Christmas Eve of 1998, I was filled with anticipation. My expected visitors included my youngest daughter, Virginia, and her new husband, Jim. Heather, our eldest, was home from college and completed our group of five people and two beloved canines.   

     We returned home from church as twilight approached, and giant snowflakes swirled in the streetlights and quickly blanketed the ground. I wanted Jim's evening to be memorable, and it was. 

     As bedtime neared, the child in me couldn’t wait for morning to get out in the snow.

“Who wants to take the dogs for a walk before bedtime?” I asked

Only Heather and Jim indulged me.

 I was ready in mere seconds. But in my excitement to tromp through the snow, I hadn’t taken time to tether the dogs. I opened the door and watched in horror as two dark blobs disappeared into a sea of white. 

Heather and Jim joined me on the porch.  Their eyes cut to the two leashes I held in my hand.

“Mom,” my eldest said with irritation written all over her face. But she quickly came up with a plan.

She and Jim would start walking around the block and work outward. I would take our truck and make a larger loop.  

          After a short while, I spotted one, then two pairs of paw prints in the snow. I followed them to a nearby horse corral. I pulled the truck to the side of the road and opened the door. Immediately, the wayward critters raced over and jumped into the front seat. My relief quickly turned to dismay. What was that foul odor? I quickly covered my nose and began to breathe through my mouth. 

      It seemed the fresh, warm horse manure was all the invitation our dogs needed to roll around in something smelly. Herding these mutts into the house left a trail of horse poop down the hall. Jim spent the rest of the evening shampooing the carpet as Heather and I bathed two uncooperative dogs.

Yes, things don’t always go as planned.  I’m sure Mary didn’t anticipate giving birth to Jesus in a manger surrounded by smelly animals, either. Still, from His humble beginning came a King who would save our world.  And isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

     So, each December, I try to be open to the unexpected. 1998 is now a blessed memory of a family bonding with a united purpose.

As the years roll on, my grandchildren experience surprise Christmases, too. Volcanic ash from an eruption of Mt. Etna once fell instead of snow when Jim was stationed in Italy. When he was stationed in Washington, a major ice storm hit. We spent Christmas morning without power and had to slide our suitcases down the street to fly home.

One Christmas, Jim could not be with us due to a military deployment.  But Navy volunteers made a “Daddy doll” complete with his image in his uniform so Jim’s boys could have him join us for Christmas festivities.

The surprise events are now my favorites.

     So, what might God do with your plans this season?  Will you be ready for unanticipated events or visitors?  I’ll bet some of you have your own Christmas calamity to share.  I’d love to hear your story.