Christmas in Hollis

I love the holidays.  By the holidays, I mean any holiday.  My family celebrates every major and minor holiday with a large meal. Holidays, such as Eid, Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter get more than one meal, but other holidays, such as MLK day, Groundhog's Day, Valentine's Day, President's Day, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's Day, International Mother's Day, Birthdays, etc... I think you get the point...all get either a potluck or a special meal out somewhere.  The last three months, because the two Eids fell during the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas season this year, have been non-stop party time.  You'd think I'd weigh three hundred pounds, but I've actually managed to lose weight thanks to my sister's amazing Pilates/walking program.  I've been in virtual heaven and been able to keep up the spirit of the season throughout this whole time.  My spirit has not suffered one bit until one, teensy, little episode this evening.

Let's break here.  I get e-mails quite a bit from meaningful people who tell me that unless I follow this path or that path, then I will burn in the eternal fires of whatever afterlife these particular people believe were are all fated to after we die.  These people are of no one faith and because I grew up in the middle of fire and brimstone-ville, my mind genericizes all these messages and they get filed away in the "blah-blah" bin.  In proverbial terms...sticks and stones may break my bones...etc...

Tonight, however, my ever-meaningful uncle decided to take it upon himself to corner me during the family Christmas party.  This is not uncommon, but today it got to me for whatever reason.  He asked me if I knew the reason for the season...Jesus...did I know who Jesus was...I knew who he was for different people, but Christians believe he was the Savior...generic answers I always give...did I believe he was my Savior...in not so many words...what did that mean?...I believe Jesus is a great man, but a Savior in a different sense than Christians...I feel so sorry for you K.  Do you know the price of Jesus not being your Savior is the fires of Hell?  Your whole family is going to heaven and you will go to Hell...Thank you. Merry Christmas.

Why did this bother me?  I don't know.  Why didn't I mention that he didn't believe my whole family was going to heaven because he definitely hasn't ever included my husband nor my father...and, depending on his mood, one or more of my sisters.  I believe I just needed to get out this negativity and move on...have comfort in the fact that I know most of my family does not share his views, but rather understands the commonalities between my beliefs and theirs.

I can focus on all the good conversations I've had this season with people who want to understand and who want to build rather than break down relationships.  The ones who don't want to try, though, just chip little parts away and just hit a nerve sometimes.  I'll have to wait for that part to heal, but I know something else will happen to be a balm for that sore spot.

"Be patient, for your patience is with the help of God." (16:127)