bryan has an epiphany

There are several definitions of the word “epiphany”. Right now, many mainline church denominations are celebrating the season of Epiphany commemorating the coming of the Magi and the first manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles.

Another definition is “an intuitive grasp of reality through something usually simple and striking”. Bryan had such an epiphany during Epiphany as we deconstructed the Christmas tree this week. As we began to strip the concolor fir tree of its many decorations, Bryan stopped suddenly, looked at me forlornly and said “Mom, this is kinda sad”, arms outstretched towards the tree in all its beauty. And I had to wholeheartedly agree with him. The hype, hustle and bustle are over. Anticipating Christmas for weeks on end with decorating, food prep and present wrapping, now is a thing of the past. It IS kinda sad. The longed-for family togetherness did not happen as we had wished due to a Covid scare. But is Christmas ever the Perfect Holiday we always hold in our imaginations?

All year long Bryan looks forward to Christmas Day. And, once it’s over, it is a bit depressing. I’m betting we all feel it to some degree.

To alleviate the sadness, I made us some hot cocoa with marshmallows. Bryan requested we play his favorite Christmas CD (yes, we are old school!) to brighten the mood. Maybe it was the effect of the cocoa or the music, but his mood brightened considerably.

And then, almost every ornament (and there were a lot this year!) was examined and a story told of each, revisiting old memories of Christmases past. The dialogue was mostly provided by Bryan. The picture ornaments of him from preschool to high school had interesting backstories. As each found its home in the ornament box, it was commented on, carefully wrapped in tissue, and tucked away in the attic.

Some of those decorations are well over forty years old. Bryan found his Baby’s First Christmas ornament from 1981 as well as his sister’s from 1984. We wondered about getting an ornament to commemorate the upcoming birth of the first child in the next generation of our family.

As we eagerly anticipate the birth of our daughter’s little baby boy in March, we hold dear the celebration of the birth of a baby boy over 2,000 years ago. A baby boy that came for ALL – Jew and Gentile – and changed the course of history. May that epiphany stay with us the whole year through, not just on one day a year and may we keep that Christmas love and “Goodwill towards men” in our hearts always.