Home For Christmas
Will you be home for Christmas? Many people travel during the Christmas season. Carol shares a previously published story with a spiritual message at the end.
Do You Travel Home For Christmas?
Do you travel somewhere for Christmas – a warm vacation or home to visit family? Maybe yours is the place that children or grandchildren come home to. Possibly you open your home to those who have no other plans, no home to go to or nowhere close enough to travel.
There are so many scenarios, as unique as the people who populate them about where and how Christmas is spent.
Christmas With Grandparents
I had the privilege of spending time with both sets of grandparents at Christmas time. We would be at one grandmother’s for Christmas and Boxing Day we spent at the other grandmother’s. The next year it reversed. As an adult, with a family of my own, we had to make more choices and due to distance our children spent Christmas at one set of grandparents and New year’s at the other with it reversed the next year.
Now I’m the Grandmother
Now I am the grandmother with children who do not live close enough to come home for Christmas and some that do. Life changes. Each year is different. But I love each member of my family, wherever they live and wherever they are in their lives.
My grandson encouraged and challenged me to try writing a fiction piece and this short story is one of the results. It was published in Inscribe Christian Writers anthology called Christmas Stories and More. Its message touches my heart and I pray for each of my children and grandchildren to make the decision about their eternal home before it is too late.
Home for Christmas
Christmas lights illuminating the porch and a lit-up tree in the front window beckoned Katie as she dashed up the steps to her Gramma’s house. After her long day at work, and then fending off the unwanted advances of a drunken colleague at her office Christmas party, her preference would have been to go back to her own apartment and curl up on her leather sofa. But a little voice in her head hounded her with the words, “Go see Gramma – now!
She shook her head as if to free her mind from all these thoughts and knocked before trying the door handle. It moved at her touch. She entered the house which had been home for most of her life.
“Gramma, I’m home.”
Katie dropped her bag, threw her jacket towards the hooks by the door and rushed to the living room when Gramma never answered her call. She spied grandmother in her favourite chair, with the Bible open on her lap; head drooped in sleep or maybe prayer.
Katie dropped to her knees and touched Gramma’s hand, hoping not to startle her. No response. She felt for a pulse and found none. She tried again with the same result. “Gramma – no – don’t go! I need you.”
Choking back sobs, she dialed 9-1-1. While waiting for help to arrive she knew two things with sudden clarity. Her Gramma now resided in the heaven she had spoken of frequently. And secondly, all the things Katie had run towards in the big city- her glamourous, professionally decorated apartment, great job and the multitude of entertainment choices never filled the spot this grandmother, who raised her, had always fulfilled. Why did it take until now for her to recognize it?
The next few days passed in a blur of activity. Neighbours and church people dropped by with food, offers to help and fond memories of Gramma. However, when Katie returned to work, her boss was not sympathetic of her request for more time off, and none of her colleagues called to offer their condolences. The sharp contrast pricked her heart. She began to question her perception of church attendance being too old fashioned and her choice not to visit Gramma in person more often. The pastor’s words of hope at the funeral flooded her mind with memories of Bible lessons learned in Sunday school, church sermons and from her Gramma.
On Christmas Eve, Katie curled up on the familiar old sofa to open an envelope she had discovered while sorting through the papers on the old roll-top desk. Her name, in Gramma’s delicate handwriting, graced the envelope. She pulled out a single sheet of paper.
December 15
Dear Katie,
By the time you read this letter I’ll be home with Jesus. I have prayed for you every day. I long for you to remember the babe in the manger who became the Christ of the cross; giving His life so you can be His child. He loves you and is waiting for you with open arms. My heart’s desire is to see you again – in heaven. Never forget how much I have loved you.
Love
Gramma.
Come Home to God
Tears fell on the paper as Katie begged God’s forgiveness for running away from Him. Peace enveloped her and she heard a voice, God’s voice, whisper, “Welcome home my child.”
Where ever you are this Christmas season, you too can come home to God.
Where do you usually spend Christmas? We would love to hear from you. Share your comment below or contact us at HopeStreamRadio.
Carol Harrison
Listen to Carol’s program Puzzle Pieces Of Life or visit Carol’s website carolscorner.ca
Carol Harrison B.Ed is a speaker and published author with one book, Amee’s Story and stories in twelve anthologies. She is passionate about helping people of all ages and ability levels find their voice and reach their fullest potential.
She knows, through personal experience that some of life’s experiences are tougher than others. She encourages people that even in the twists and turns of life God’s amazing grace provides hope.
She lives in Saskatoon, SK with her husband Brian. They have four adult children and a dozen grandchildren.
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Pen and Paper – mohamed_hassan
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