We married in early September, and for our first Christmas, Lenette wanted to have a Christmas Party for her folks and my whole family. This was all to take place in our 900 sq ft home. Everyone was formally invited to what we hoped was the party of the year. Gifts were ready under a Christmas tree that almost filled the living room. Lenette cooked up a storm, including turkey, ham, sweet potatoes, cranberry, pies, and you name it. For us, and we hoped for all, it would be an event to be remembered.
“Ma” called my sister and told her that she couldn’t go to the Christmas Party. My sister (Annette) understood our mom’s reluctance and pain but prevailed and convinced Ma she must do this for Lenette and me. Ma, who loves Lenette, came with all the family and had an absolutely wonderful time. Memorable, to say the least. Needless to say, our Christmas Party was a howling success. Nobody left until early the next day.
At about 6:am in the morning (same day), the phone rings, and it’s Ma. She tells Lenette that this was the best party she ever went to and “you know what? Jesus wasn’t there.” AND NOW THE REST OF THE STORY.
When Ma was a young girl in her village, the village was attacked by marauding Cossacks with the sole purpose of killing Jews and burning the village. She had 12 brothers (she slept on the stove). Nine of her brothers went out to defend the village, and five were killed. She remembers her mother going mad when her other sons told her. Are we able to understand the shock, the loss? Can we understand that “JESUS WAS’NT THERE” at our Christmas Party?
Events do happen—And we live through most of them—Lessons are learned
Sy