CHRISTMAS GIFTS OF A DIFFERENT KIND I spoke to Conchita yesterday afternoon about a multitude of things and in our finishing conversation ,I asked her about her Christmas plans. Well true to form, she always surprises me with something I marvel at. She explained to me how most people are focused on the giving and getting of gifts of material things, most of which they really don’t need. So I asked “ so then what do you do with your family at Christmas ? “ At the beginning of Advent, her family does a “ Kris Kringle “. (For those who do not know what this is, it is where you put everyone’s name in a hat , and each person blindly picks out a piece of paper with someone’s else’s name on it ,and keeps it a secret, and that is who you get a gift for ) . Now of course she reminded me they don’t give ( material ) gifts , so instead, each person prays the rosary ,each day of advent for the name they picked out, until Christmas . On Christmas day, when they gather again, each person reveals whom they have been praying for, and presents that person with a mass card for them ! It never ceases to amaze me how clearly ,through spiritual eyes, she sees this world , and the way we all should approach daily life with humility and a spiritual focus on what is really important. This season, lets remember her and her family and include them in our Advent and Christmas prayers, and the unimaginable burden she must carry in quiet humility. She wishes all here a blessed Advent and Christmas season.
Hi glen. Thanks for sharing thus story. It reminded me of something we did in past years, but I'm ashamed to say didn't do this year- hmmm....I think the pull of the world.......but we also during Advent picked someone secretly and you would do all sorts of "extra" kindnesses for that person- kids doing more chores, holding back your tongue when your frustrate, etc. I like Conchita's rosary idea ! What we still do on a Christmas morning (we have really cut down on gift giving) is that each family member writes out a card to each other saying why that person is a "gift" to them in their life. And it's a card of thanks for the gift of love and family. Peace.
This is the type of Christmas that I would long for. I despise all the gift exchanges and all the expectations of getting something big and then watching faces as they grow sour, because it wasn't the best of the best. All the stress of fighting the crowds, which starts on 'black Friday' by everyone getting trampled in order to get the latest I-pod. I have a feeling though that Conchita's gift exchange is what all Christians will be doing very soon, as the spiritual order will be all that matters.
We received a special Christmas gift a day ago. We have been praying for my brother-in-law and his girlfriend . They have been living together for years and she is now on her 4th stage of lung cancer and getting weaker each day. We have been visiting with my brother -in -law to have a priest come to their home and give her the last rites and pray with them. He agreed with us and said that he would contact father. We received a phone call from him ( he called all his siblings6) he said the priest heard their confessions leading them through the process for it had been years and visited with them on the church stand on co-habitation without the marriage vows. They agreed and asked father if they could receive the sacrament of marriage. He said to my wife (his sister) we both felt so good and free that I felt like a little boy again and just wanted to sit in a corner so that I would never sin again. I praise and thank God for this gift that was placed upon them and answer to my prayers, and ask you all to give a Christmas gift of prayer for them for a deeper understanding of Gods mercy and for Del in her pain and struggle on their final days together. May the merciful God hear our prayers. Amen
What a very special grace. Prayers fgoing up. It is so true as we pray in the, 'Hail Holy Queen'. Mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Loads and loads of joy and laughter too however. Loads of it. What a gift life is. TO give us the chance to choose God and heaven and God's Most Holy Will.
Miker, My family for many years has had a similar tradition, We have a doll's cradle that we fill with straw over the course of Advent. Each straw represents a good deed a member of the family has secretly done for another. The hard thing is sticking a straw in without being seen! It is fun to watch the straw pile up so that Baby Jesus has a soft bed on which lie come Christmas morn. Unfortunately, the Rome trip and it's preparations axed the tradition this year. Glory to God in the highest!
