Five years ago, my wife and I were depressed when we first started talking about Christmas. It seemed Grinch-19 had stolen it right out from under us! Here’s how we had a merry COVID Christmas anyway:
Thought for the Week
For the first time in her life, our youngest daughter wouldn’t be with us (flying was too risky). And our oldest and her significo were cautiously splitting their limited-exposure-time between families. Result? It would just be the two of us on Christmas Day.
My wife suggested we skip giving each other gifts, which was fine with me; receiving gifts was only a big deal when I was a kid. (Although we did buy stocking-fillers and make donations in each other’s names). But what bothered me was having “less Christmas.”
So I had a heart-to-heart with the Originator of Christmas, and He said, “Don’t do less Christmas, do a different one.” After all, the opening scene of “the greatest story ever told,” the birth of Jesus, can never be diminished. And Jesus continues to show up at Christmas, and every other day of the year, for those who invite him in. Not only is he immune to viruses, he’s the ultimate vaccine for the worst virus of all time: human sin.
So Trudy and I talked about how to have a Christmas that would be different, but not less. And here’s what we came up with:
On Christmas Eve, we bundled up and attended a uniquely bracing outdoor mini-Christmas Eve service, sang a few carols, and lit our candles from the same flame as others. Then, back at home, we Zoomed with our out-of-town loved ones, and together open the gifts we’d shipped each other. Finally, our in-town daughter and her significo joined us for a take-home tamale feast from the local tortilleria (a wonderful Mexican Christmas tradition we picked up in SoCal).
On Christmas Day, Trudy and I opened our stockings. After which, we delivered gifts and food for a local charity to elderly shut-ins. We were the only people some of them saw or even heard from that Christmas. Remember: the gift-giving tradition didn’t begin with a short, fat guy from the North Pole. It began with a tall skinny guy from Turkey (St. Nicholas of Myra). And it was all about giving gifts to the less fortunate.
Finally, after a home-made Christmas supper, we snuggled up for a couple of Christmas classic movies, and felt strangely blessed. Somehow we’d had a merry COVID Christmas after all. And, like the original Christmas 2,000 years ago…
It was unlike any other.
Coping is a great skill …. and we were tested a lot during those times!
Merry Christmas!
In more ways than one. And Merry Christmas to you, my friend! (I’m afraid I don’t know your name.)
Beautiful! Yes, Covid (seems like forever ago!) started some new “traditions.” Marty and I both had Covid on Thanksgiving that year, and I was actually kinda thankful not to be cooking all day. 😏 Marty was at the stage where he had no appetite, and I was where I couldn’t taste anything, so I just made a pot of chicken soup, and we, too, relaxed and watched holiday movies. I also wrote a blog post about gratitude, which, if I’m not mistaken, is the point of Thanksgiving. 😉
I believe you’re correct, Annie.
Love this, Mitch!
Sweet, creative, loving and Christ-like (less the movies!)
Thanks for sharing, brother. Encouraging.
Merry Christmas, Anne❣
Love you made the mistake of of it! Merry Christmas, Mitch!
💕🎄
And a Merry Christmas to you, Cindy❣
I remember that Covid Christmas. Back then, there were no lateral flow tests so we had to send away for our results. My phone pinged on Christmas morning and I thought it would be a Merry Christmas message … but it was from the NHS, telling me that I had Covid and that I’d have to isolate … 😬
Certainly not the Merry Christmas message you were expecting, Louis! Those are the times when we recalibrate what we’re really grateful for, like the fact that we’re still breathing.
Hey mitch a summed quote from Buechner states we usually say Jesus showed up. Actually, He is always there, we pay attention and listen to Him.
Exactly, Norm.
Heartwarming story about finding meaning at Christmas! Love this.❤️
🧡
It’s a wonderful life Mitch. Thanks for the tender story.
My privilege, Norm.
I appreciate this Christmas reflection, Mitch. Over the years, Terri and I have had to pivot and work out having Christmas in a non-traditional way. We’ve learned to trust the Lord in all circumstances. He will work it out if we’re willing to lean in and make room in our hearts for Him.
Amen, Rainer. 🧡
A Merry and Blessed Christmas to you and your family.
Thank you, and likewise to you and yours, dear Sandy❣
Ours will be a quiet one. Our only son’s family, four hours away, moved to a new neighborhood Thanksgiving week, so didn’t come down as they’d planned. Two weeks later, their aging rescue dog was attached by two pit bulls in their new neighborhood. Renee ended up in urgent care for a wrenched hand, Dan with Luna at the vet–needed several stitches plus a drain, got home at 2 am. Luna is still in recovery. We’re glad for a cozy home and each other, thanking God for his gift of the Christ Child!
So sorry to hear about their multiple catastrophes, Joy! Love and prayers for you and your family, dear friend. 🙏
What a heartwarming Christmas! Merry Christmas to you and yours and I hope it will be filled with holiday joy!
Likewise, Rasma❣
Ciertamente una hermosa y bendecida Navidad.
Gracias, Norma, y Feliz Navidad!
That’s definitely making the best of a gloomy situation!
Lovely!
Amen and a merry Christmas to you and yours, Mitch.
Thank you, Anonymous friend.
We’ve spent numerous Christmases by ourselves the past few years, as we’ve learned to share our kids and grandkids with “the other side of the family.” So we’ve made some new traditions: cranberry-apple pie for breakfast, a morning walk, some new and fancy recipe for dinner. We treasure the family time we have during the holidays, knowing that the actual date isn’t what’s really important.
Wishing you a happy and blessed Christmas.
Thank you, Lynn, wishing you the same❣
I only need the company of my OH to make any event special
🧡
COVID made a lot of things different. Not less, just different.
True, Kara.
Merry Christmas
And a Merry Christmas to you, L.G.
Merry Christmas, Mitch.
And a Merry Christmas to you and yours, Andrew!
Thank you!
You two celebrated WELL that year! I remember Christmas Day 2020. We’d just finished a Zoom call with our younger son (J) and his wife (N), who live 3+ hours away, when the doorbell rang. Steve answered the door and there they were on our doorstep, bearing gifts! J and N had driven to our house, then made the Zoom call from their car. With a fake starry background behind them, we were none the wiser that they were parked in front of the house. It was very cold that day, but we stood on the porch, J and N in the yard, and chatted a bit before they left to play the same trick on our older son and his family. In spite of Covid, J and N made it a memorable Christmas! / Merry Christmas to you, Trudy, and your precious family. I trust you all ARE together this year!
Memorable indeed, Nancy! What a wonderful trick they played on you. Not quite all together this year: our youngest Beth and her husband are visiting his family in New York this time around (it’s “their year”).
Merry Christmas to your and your family as well, dear friend❣
nancy as for 4545
Beautiful post Mitch!! 😁
Thank you, Christina!
That was truly a wonderful way that you and Trudy celebrated Christmas, Mitch. What surprises me is that you both didn’t write a play, perform it, and zoom it. 🙂
;>)
Wonderful memories Mitch. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure, Pete.
Covid tried to steal Christmas but it got upstaged. I think that year was when Christmas was truly celebrated for what it is.
I agree, Iba.
“This is such a beautiful reminder that Christmas isn’t about how many people are around or the size of the gifts—it’s about love, presence, and giving. Truly inspiring how you turned a challenging situation into a meaningful celebration!”
Thank you, Anjali.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!!!
Thank you, and likewise, Jean!
That wasn’t my favorite Christmas; however, like you, we Zoomed with our son on the other side of the country while we opened presents–and even ate some together. I love all of your creativity for that Christmas like no other!
Thanks, Keith.
Loved this! This year our Christmas was different. It was quiet, unlike Christmases of past with lots of family gathering to celebrate the true meaning beginning with our prayer and praise circle to bless the food, then great eats, games, and lots of laughter. The matriarch and patriarch have passed on making bringing us together less regular.
🧡
That’s a lovely story – I hope this Christmas Day was just as special –
It was, thank you, Marie. And likewise, I pray.