A Phone Call

Have you ever been in a situation and wondered why in the world was it happening to you and what good could come of it?  Well, today is Christmas Eve day and I called a friend of mine only to hear him say his wife was being transferred to a rehab facility this afternoon.  The rest of the details don't matter for this short space but all of a sudden I realized the journey that has transpired in my life lately was offering a "gift" to my friend now.

In fact, that gift to him will also enrich my days ahead, also. Amazingly so, this transpires on a day when we welcome a newborn baby, Jesus, born in a stable and was laid in a manger. He was poor, amidst barn animals...not even among other family or friends.

My friends too, today, are not among any family or friends as they transition from acute care to assisted living. They are going to a strange place, have no comforts of home, are fearful and uncertain of the thoughts of a new environment. Yet, my phone call to them came as he was to drive north to the hospital to meet her.  I was able to offer words of comfort hopefully.  Will meet up with them later today at the facility.

Courtesy of Pixabay

I connect the dots from the birth of that little infant Jesus, helpless and needing to be cared for by his parents.  Even his parents, the Blessed Mother and St. Joseph, needed to trust in God's guidance and care. Today, thinking back to this scene gives me hope that there is nothing going on in my/our world that those parents and their child do not understand.

And here we are, each of us, able to offer strength and hope to others, often because of our own struggles, helping others to be comforted in their own journey.  It brings me to such a sense of gratitude first of all for that first Christmas, secondly for the gift of my faith, and thirdly, for family and friends. 

I don't have to sit in a pity pot bemoaning things I don't have, but to be grateful for the gifts that I do have.  Oh, no, not the Christmas gifts under a tree but true gifts of being able to think of a friend, call up and wish Merry Christmas and have a door open that really offers something consoling to the person on the other end of the line. 

This is the real Christmas to me, knowing I have gifts and even though often not able to realize them at first, listen to God's guidance in a day and follow that star that leads me right where I'm supposed to be!  How about you?  Where does that star lead you? A phone call? To the biggest gift you could ever ask for? 

A blessed Christmas to each of you! Feel free to share this post with those you love, and those who love you. It may be a wonderful gift for them, too!