Advent 16
Monday, Third Week of Advent
12 December 2022
Ever since I was a little girl, I always looked forward to Christmas Eve. There was something about the mystery of it all that made me believe in the magic of the season. The traditions and closeness of family has always warmed my heart and lit me up like one of those ceramic Christmas Trees. Growing up, our family used to spend every Christmas Eve at my Gram and Pop’s house. It was our tradition; a big Italian dinner, Mitch Miller’s Christmas album playing on the old record player, and gifts from floor to ceiling in the den. One year we even had a visit from Santa Claus himself!
As we got older, everyone started to scatter for the holidays. Those of us that stayed close to home relocated our Christmas Eve celebration to my Aunt’s house. It was fun in different ways but I always harkened back to those Christmas Eves of years passed that I have such fund memories of.
Last year my Pop passed away from COVID. Losing him unexpectedly in this way was so hard for our family. He was such a special man and his birthday was the day right after Christmas. Mine is December 30, so we would always celebrate our birthdays together around the holiday. I missed him so much last Christmas and on our birthdays. 2022 has had its own challenges and unexpected changes. I now understand on a personal level how a season that normally brings so much joy and hope can also be extremely hard and overwhelming. Like the season of Advent, I found myself waiting for a glimmer of hope to appear and start to turn things around just enough to bring the magic of the season back.
The other night, my Gram called me to tell me that she talked to my Pop in her prayers and they decided that Christmas Eve would be back at their house this year. She asked me to coordinate the plans and the menu with one of my cousins so that we could help her recreate the old traditions we hold dear. As a former Director of Student Activities, I was up for the challenge. My Gram is 88 years young. She misses my Pop so much and knew how much he loved having everyone over on Christmas Eve at the old house. She found a light from within and chose to spread that light to her children and grandchildren by opening up the house for one more old fashioned Christmas Eve on Buckley Road.
A sense of nostalgia set in and I felt some peace in my heart knowing that despite all of the recent challenges and unexpected life changes I have experienced, I am exactly where I need to be. Knowing Advent is a time of watchful waiting and uncertainty - I felt hopeful as I recognized that we would all be “home” for Christmas. This season- acts of kindness go a long way. You never know when something small can give someone who is near a breaking point some renewed hope. My Gram opening her house for a traditional Christmas Eve did that for me. I hope to pass that on to all of you. Merry Christmas!
Noelle Niznik
ALEX Advisor
