The woman shifted to one side allowing blood flow back into her buttocks. How is it that schools only have metal chairs to sit on for their programs, she mused. Maybe it was a tactic to keep people awake.
Kristy took a deep breath thankful that she finally made it to the program. Work had been crazy causing her to get off later than she had planned. It seemed that the universe was always working against her and tonight of all nights it was working in full force.
The lights dimmed and a hush came over the auditorium as the curtains to the stage opened. “Part two.” A child’s voice rang over the sound system.
Kristy strained to see over the crowd. Due to her tardiness, there had only been a few seats in the back available.
“Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright.” Kristy’s attention landed on the small children lined up to one side of the stage dressed in their best Sunday outfits. One child didn’t appear to be affected by the seriousness of the song and continued to twirl in place lifting her skirt up and down as she sung with the group. This caused some quiet giggles from the audience.
Memories surfaced about the many times she watched her niece in various programs throughout the years. She had been out of the country and hadn’t had a chance to see her niece in a while. It was a piece of mail waiting for her in the mailbox a couple of weeks ago that drew her here tonight. A letter from her niece with an urgent invitation to be present at this program.
Kristy’s attention was drawn back to a young woman atop a donkey being led onto the stage by a young man. Realizing it was her niece now dressed up as a very pregnant Mary made her smile. Being away for five years was too long. She had missed too much.
The story began to unfold as the character, Joseph, looked for lodging but was turned away many times until he finally found a warm dry shelter in a stable with animals. Another group of kids now stood on the stage and began to sing with the band, “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie.”
Kristy’s mind went back to another time as she recalled why this whole family separation began. Her father had just passed away so she and her sister had to go to the attorney’s office to get instructions on what needed to be done with the estate. Sitting across a large mahogany table the lawyer eyed the sisters feeling the tension between the two. As to why her relationship with her step-sister had been strained, Kristy honestly couldn’t remember now.
“Angels we have heard on high, sweetly signing o’er the plains.” The older kids now stood on stage signing in harmony along with the piano.
Looking at her designer bag now sitting in her lap, Kristy recalls that after a lengthy talk the lawyer revealed that her sister would inherit everything. Emotions that had been tamped down erupted. What she did next made her internally groan. Kristy stood and took the very purse she held now and swung it with all the pent-up anger and resentment at her step-sister knocking her over. It was as if a pressure cooker exploded. The two sisters began yelling at each other with one grabbing hair, and the other shoving. It wasn’t until the lawyer and her brother-in-law pulled the two sisters apart that Kristy yelled, “I HATE YOU!” and left the room.
A movement above caught her attention bringing her back to the present. Swinging from the ceiling was a kid in a white angel’s outfit sprinkled with gold glitter. On top of his head sat a sparkling gold halo that hung to one side giving Kristy the impression that trouble followed him around. Another child’s voice began to recite, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Christ the Lord.”
A bubble of laughter erupted from Kristy along with everyone else as the child swung side-to-side yelling, “Wee!” It had been a long time since she had laughed like this.
After the will reading, Kristy moved to England, at the urging of her aunt, and emersed herself in the extended family business cutting all ties with her sister. She thought this would make her feel better but it only caused bitterness and anger leaving her with the unwanted companion of loneliness. Having to come back to the states for business she realized that her and her sister’s disagreement wasn’t just between the two of them but it had affected the whole family. Maybe it was embarrassment of how she reacted and creating the chasm in her family that held her back from seeing her niece.
While someone rescued the flying angel from his harness, shepherds with bleating sheep made their way onto the stage to see the new born savior. Kristy began to relax and allowed the Christmas story unfold before her.
The audience was then invited to sing along with the band and all the participants. “Joy to the world, the Lord has come. Let earth receive her king.”
Remembering the words, Kristy began singing. A warmth inside began to fill her as she watched the wise men walked out on the stage and set their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh before the squirming baby Jesus.
When the song ended, there was a moment of silence. Realizing that this was the end of the show, applause erupted and people began to stand. “Bravo!”
Kristy stood feeling the rush of excitement in the auditorium and began clapping.
After the standing ovation and the cast had taken their bow, the crowd quieted and sat back down. The cast then melded back into the scenery leaving Mary, Kristy’s niece at the front of the stage holding now a sleeping baby in her arms.
Leaning towards the mic the young woman began to speak. “Thank you all for coming to our Christmas pageant. My name is Rachelle. We worked hard on this show for most of the year wanting to give our community a story with a true meaning as we enter the Christmas holiday season.”
Sitting stock still, Kristy hung on every word her niece spoke.
Rachelle shifted the baby in her arms and continued. “Tonight is especially important to me not only because I’m celebrating the birth of a savior, but because I have faith that Christ will restore my family to me.”
Shifting in her seat, Kristy wondered why she had made such an awful scene that day.
The young woman continued. “If you have family or friends that you haven’t seen in a while or maybe there are relationships that are strained, take the opportunity this holiday to renew those ties. Christmas wasn’t meant to alienate folks. It’s a message of hope, restoration, and love. Let’s all come together for Christmas because the reason for the season is Jesus.”
Kristy watched through blurred eyes as her niece made one more comment before walking off the stage. “Aunti, please come spend Christmas with us.”
The curtains then closed leaving Kristy in a now somber mood to reflect on the words her niece had just spoken.
After making her way back to the car, Kristy sat in the dark. As tears trailed down her face, mentally she berated herself over the damage caused and the loss of time her family have experienced. Maybe it was time to put this all behind her and as her niece said, come together.
The holiday season can be difficult for many people. Loss can bring many painful memories causing sadness during a time that is meant to be filled with happiness. Sometimes family dynamics get in the way leaving a person wondering if a get-together is really worth all the heart ache.
Whatever the reason, I pray that you find peace during the Christmas season. As Rachelle in the story says, Christmas wasn’t meant to alienate folks. It’s a message of hope, restoration, and love.
May God bless you beyond measure. Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Image by imagedepotpro on iStock
Gwen
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