Love is Alive at ChristmasJan 23, 2006

Global

Peggy L. Elliott

Like many young women that Christmas Eve night, my daughter was hoping there would be the gift of an engagement ring awaiting her.  Probably not under the Christmas tree to be opened in the morning, but very soon.

Christmas Day was out, the object of her affection having left that afternoon to return home for his family’s celebration in far, far away Cornucopia, Wisconsin - the end of Wisconsin, the beginning of her world.

He’d be back in a few days, though.  And so that special evening found just the two of us together.  A few candles softened the dark, pin-pricks of color gleamed from the tree, some classic movie shone on the television, while we enjoyed our hushed conversation, that which can only occur in such safe and holy moments.

Suddenly the front door crashed open and across the room raced a figure draped in black - black hooded winter coat, black pants.  Straight to Katie on the couch it sprang - to grab her and reveal that it was he, not in Corny after all, but a Christmas Surprise!

I knew this was coming; someone had to leave the front door unlocked for him to enter.  Therefore, I was let in on the surprise to some extent - that of knowing he had not returned to his family’s home for Christmas, but had, instead, chosen to celebrate the holiday with Katie.

However, he did, indeed, have an engagement ring and, hopeless romantic as he tends to be, he knelt before Katie, asking her for the honor of her hand in marriage.  They were both sobbing, so happy, so relieved, so excited.  A world of infinite possibilities existing ahead for them, young, bright, educated and in love, could life ever be better?

Not yet cast upon their shoulders the detours and roadblocks ahead, no fear of the unknown, the weight of which, being shared, is now lightened.  Because, as we who are older and wiser all know, there will be times when difficulties will wash ashore in the ebb and flow of the tides throughout their days.

Christmas has always been a popular time for couples to become engaged.  I’d believed this to be simply a convenient opportunity, as gifts are traditionally exchanged on this holiday.  What better present to give or receive than a sparkling engagement ring, the gift of a lifetime?

I’ve come to believe there’s a stronger force at work here.  Yes, the ring is certainly an expensive gift, but it’s so much more than a piece of jewelry for a woman to don and display.  It represents the pledge of love, commitment, the belief that life is good and this world a worthy place within which wonders and miracles can be obtained.

When we sweep away the superficial trappings, all the activity and madness we’ve allowed to permeate this holiday, isn’t this the promise made for us all at Christmas?  The promise that, so long ago, was delivered to us by a harried couple, for whom so much had gone wrong - arriving exhausted in a distant place with no place to stay and a baby deciding it was time to greet the world and begin His own special, wonderful work.

Christmas reminds us of the infinite possibilities that can be discovered through the sharing of love.  As on that long-ago night, when those two ordinary people came together and ultimately nurtured a miracle. 

It is all a matter of maintaining our faith - faith in the future, faith in each other, faith in the miracles that can - and still do - spring forth, if we remember to keep our eyes and our minds open to all the infinite possibilities.

In my home, on that lovely Christmas Eve night, two people pledged their lives, one to the other, and sealed the promise with a ring.  There could be no greater gift than that of love, no finer way to honor the spirit of the season than by announcing that you still believe in a world that is filled with blessings just waiting to be given and received.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all of you wonderful people.  May the love in your life shine bright upon you this night and all the many days and nights to come!