The first Christmas in 45 years Chester and I won’t be spending Christmas together and it’s very different, painful as hell, lonely and empty. He and I right now would be making last minute preparations for the big day, making sure we had all the gifts we had planned to get for each one in the family. Gathering goodies to put in stockings etc. He would be like he usually does, bringing home treats and snacks galore. He loved this time of the year. I loved spending it with him.
I have been avoiding as much as possible everything that goes along with this time of the year. I did manage to attend last week a “Cookies and Caroling” event that my granddaughter Esther’s kindergarten class put on. It hurt but I know Chester would want me to go and I didn’t want to let Esther down either. What got me through was when the kindergarten classes sang “Away In A Manger.” about the baby Jesus. She attends a Catholic school.
There is a family get together this coming Sunday with my brothers, and their families at the nursing home where both my dad and sister-in-law are. I don’t know how I’ll fair.My brothers have been a great support but I don’t know if I’ll be able to get through without falling apart.
The only way I know how to get through this season is that I’ve been focusing like a laser on the real reason we celebrate Christmas, the birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ who loves us so much that He came to earth as a baby in a manger, grew up as a man, sacrificed Himself on the cross to pay for our sins when we didn’t deserve it. Rising again to give us hope, eternal life. the best gift of all time so that we like Chester can live with Him in heaven forever and ever if we believe in Him. It’s a free gift from God the Father, the best Christmas gift ever.
John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Ephesians 2:8-9 King James Version (KJV)
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
I have received that gift. I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and I trust Him. With that gift I can focus and hang on believing and trusting in Jesus Christ resting in the assurance that I will one day be reunited with my Chester and live in eternity with my Savior. The gift of hope, a blessed hope, my only hope.
Here To Eternity 