I wish I could recall where I read this story, but it has stuck in my heart these many weeks now. It is about two childhood friends, who erased the barriers of their religious faith with one giving to the other.
It goes something like this.
It was the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukah. Chanah and her Grandmother prepared the special treats and foods traditionally served during the holiday. Decorations carefully placed in traditional locations. Each piece would contribute their significance over the eight nights of Hanukah. It was a joyful time for the Jewish family.
Chanah decided to visit her friend, Maria, with a plate of treats she and her grandmother had made. When she entered her friend?s home, she was surprised to discover that there were no Christmas decorations, as was usual this time of the holiday season for her Christian friend.
Maria confided in Chanah that disaster had struck the family financially. This year a traditional Christmas would not be celebrated in Maria?s home.
Chanah went home and shared Maria?s story urging her family to make Christmas for Maria and her family. Together the family went shopping for gifts, decorations, and even traditional Christmas cookies and treats baked for the family.
Chanah?s family gathered the gifts, a Christmas tree to decorate, along with the food they prepared and made their way to Maria?s home. That evening the two families shared the experience of bringing together the significance of Hanukah and Christmas in true love and fellowship. They shared the gift of giving and receiving.
The truth of the matter is the little girls found more common ground than dissimilar. They were good friends and bonded by love. The differences in their faith minimized, by the similarity of love and charity. Chanah understood the depth of Maria?s sadness with a holiday seemingly blemished due to circumstances not under their control. What Chanah did was extend the joy of the Festival of Lights to brighten Maria?s Christmas celebration.
Two families loving the same Creator demonstrated their love for the Creator with different traditions. Chanah reached out beyond perceived barriers of difference to extend the message of her faith by giving.
It seems we are overwhelmed with the stories of rising animosity between religions and governments. We watch the struggles of families living under bullets and bombs cascading around them. Yet, among ordinary people of faith, from all descriptions, are those who listen within their heart to the Creator?s voice to spread love among the children of creation. It is true from the eyes of the Creator children include the adults.
Simplicity of sharing gifts of the holiday season is obvious if we observe the need manifesting itself in our corner or to the ends of the world. Who in our neighborhood or among family members could benefit from the extension of our ability to share a gift that keeps giving throughout the year.
Holidays can be isolating to many individuals. I applaud the efforts of church and service groups who take the time to prepare and host meals, gather food, toys, and clothing to distribute.
The story of Chanah and Maria bring to mind the family or individuals who may be facing a difficult time this year because of unexpected circumstances. Perhaps in the past they were the ones who gave of their resources, and find themselves in a position of need. They are quietly going through the holidays in silence.
In my own experience we, as a family went through one of our hardest Christmases during my husband?s hospitalization in his last stages of life. I cannot express to you the joy we experienced when hospital staff, friends, colleagues, and family supported us with their presence. We had a Christmas tree in his room. Word got around and everyone who visited brought an ornament to place on the tree.
My children were only nine and seven. The magic of Christmas seemed almost impossible to achieve with days at the hospital. Then my sister stepped in and our home was filled with decorations and a tree my children helped decorate. It became magic that year as we celebrated Christmas at home and at the hospital. It took the edge off of the pain we felt. Today I realize it helped us transition to the next year without his presence.
Like Chanah, we make a difference one person or family at a time. The person without family on Christmas Day sitting in the nursing home may need a visit. A student too far away from home could use a place to celebrate a new experience. The recent widow or widower alone for the first time may need an invitation to share the Holiday meal. Then there is the family who finds themselves unable to create their own magic for their children.
What we experience and share with our own family is the true spirit of the traditions and faith when giving to others. The real gifts of the season are those we give with the purpose of not expecting anything in return.
A child shall lead them?
?MCStrom 4/Dec/06 All Rights Reserved
Maralene Strom is a speaker and author who teaches on topics dealing with grief and recovery;Issues of living life 50 & Beyond; Caregiving in extended care facilities, home care, and special needs; Communicating with Empathy & Compassion. Her website features some of the topics she speaks on with information to connect with her for tele-classes, workshops or speaking to groups, conferences, etc.---- let her help you discover your life's meaning as you journey now and into your future. Visit http://AdventuresInLivingsite.com to receive her newsletter.
No comments:
Post a Comment