It's Christmas weekend 2023. We're about to head up to Mom's house in Nacogdoches for a couple night's stay and head back to Houston on Christmas Day.
I cut the grass (or weeds) this morning. Though the sun is flashing its rays here and there through the clouds, we're supposed to get some rain on Sunday.
I cut the grass (or weeds) this morning. Though the sun is flashing its rays here and there through the clouds, we're supposed to get some rain on Sunday.
My mother moved to the Nacogdoches area after she was remarried to Shelby in 2009. We try to visit her a few times a year if possible. It's very peaceful out in the country, such a nice change from the hectic life in the city. While we were living in Taiwan from 2012 to 2019, the best I could do was have weekly conversations with Mom on Skype. She sent us lots of cards and letters during those seven years away. These are very special, particularly because Mom was a writer of letters, and we got to see her wonderful handwriting and read about what was happening in her life with Shelby and the pets and their property.
But back to today and the holiday. My heart has returned to an appreciation of Christmas in recent years. There is a bit of sadness that tinges this one, though. Dad passed away on October 31st and we celebrated his life on December 16th. His birthday just passed on the 21st. Since we returned to the U.S., I didn't typically see him on the holidays because he lived in Brownsville (only until late in December of 2022 when he returned to Houston). However, the urge to call him on the phone is with me all the time, as this was our custom at least once a week.
So I treasure these times together. It inspires me to emphasize the importance of family bonds, savoring the moments with my wife and sons, with my mother and Shelby, and with my brother Andy. This takes effort, especially in a culture that is highly individualist and bent on privacy. Christmas provides the opportunity not only to reflect on the Savior's birth but also the beautiful relationships with which God has blessed us.