Holidays bring joy and laughter

With friends and family and easy banter

Aromas of food prepared by our loved ones

Tables spread with anticipation.

Holidays bring also remembrance

Of the most wrenching kind,

Loved ones lost through death

And lover’s left behind.

Of family dysfunction

And childhood fears,

Of hurts, and pain and

Remembered tears,

Of frustration, distress,

Abuse and neglect.

How does one protect

The heart grown wiser

When Yuletide demands

That we lower the visor

Against the sun that shines

on the past

Our position the same-- at

The back of the class.

Together again as in former days

Unchanged but grown older

The Patriarch reigns,

Perceptions skewed by truths denied

Still building walls to hide behind.

It isn’t my fault,son, you’re to blame

You were the one who caused all the pain

Aren’t we gracious to pretend you’re okay

When all of us know the blunders you’ve made?

They have no remembrance of the part that they played

Disorder, addictions, misery and rage

They didn’t see it then and they don’t see it now

I was a child, but the enemy somehow.

It’s not about “past”—it’s about today,

Battles fought that have not gone away.

As silent sentries, hurts maintained

Justifies censure and confirms disdain.

Manipulating always through conditional love,

Yuletide is here, and so  I MUST come

To make the family circle complete

To share Christmas cheer and keep everything neat.

But everyone knows, I am “the other.”

The disappointment, unlike sister or brother.

The healing I've found is so hard to maintain

In the family celebration of Christ’s birthday?

Oh God, give me the wisdom to walk in Your love

A part of Your family, my name inscribed above

Help me to remember at my father’s table

That You are My God and in You I am able

To rise above the censure of every human heart

And worship in your Presence, to take my humble part

In celebrating Christmas, the gracious Prince of Peace

Who draws me to his side with words low and sweet:

“What they've done to you,my son, they've done also

To me.”

Pray they find grace to repent of their sin,

So they may come humbly and be welcomed in

The sanctuary you've found where joy and love abound,

But as for you, my son, you have made me SO proud.

©

Linda settles

www.RedeemingOurTreasures.com