Bit late but just found it!
A Christ Mass Message
John and Thelma sat in their small retirement cottage by the sea. This had been their dream and it still was. Life had changed so much and was still changing. Their son was now a busy CEO in an IT company in the USA. They had visited a few times, Florida, just like something out of the movies!
Their daughter now lived in South America and had a family, spoke Spanish fluently and had a ‘hobby ranch’ which she ran whilst her husband did something in the city!
They had been invited to join them both for Christ Mass, but no that would be divided loyalties and there had always been a competitive sibling rivalry between their son and daughter. No thank you but thank you very much. Their small Christ Mass parcels had been sent to them all and they would enjoy their own traditional Christ Mass in their seaside town and their seaside cottage as they had done now for seven years.
There had been an early snow around those parts, and everything looked as pure as driven snow. They had always agreed that when the first snow fell it was time to rest and reflect. No need for more gardening chores, just stoke the wood fire throw a few chestnuts on the shovel and relax to the popping sound of cooking chestnuts.
This year they would do what they had done for a few years now. They would reflect on the year just passed, renew their marriage vows and stay away from the glitz and glamour that had become Christ Mass. John had been a successful solicitor and Thelma a school teacher. They had tried to run their lives with honesty and dignity, not easy in this ‘easy come; easy go’ world.
For them Christ Mass was not about ‘partying’ – excessive alcohol and food – buying expensive presents, no it was about a ‘new birth’ for them and us all.
Christ Mass eve day they did their preparations. Cleaned the house, did all the chores that needed doing especially filling the log boxes and picked fresh flowers to begin their celebrations. As the day darkened and the evening approached they placed their Yule log on the open fire. They had a large fire hearth and could place a good sized log that would last all night and into Christ Mass day. They placed a candle in their bay window and would light it when they left for midnight mass to give them a welcome home and remind them that it is the light of Christ, and welcomes the Magi to the manager.
They had prepared a simple meal for their return from Mass and then left for church, enjoying the crisp new snow under foot. John and Thelma always said a silent prayer at Mass, “Thank you Lord for our life together, for the opportunities we have had to raise our children and help others and may we rejoice in another year in the goodness of Christ”
They wished their friends Christ Mass greetings and then returned for their ‘renewal marriage vows’ meal.
But before doing that they rang their son and daughter and wished them seasonal greetings and spoke to their excited grandchildren.
They sat and ate their simple meal and with deep love in their eyes thanked each other for the love they had shared together and with others, checked the Yule log and retired contented and happy.
Christ Mass day dawned – the dog yawned and the cat stretched – all was silent in the ‘retirement cottage’. The Yule log had grown smaller but still burnt, and the window candle was on its last base.
The local doctor remarked that he had never come across a case as this in all his days of practice. The dishes from the last night meal had been washed and left to drain, the fire guard had been placed safely around the fire hearth, the doors had been securely looked and had to be forced. John and Thelma lay together as if sleeping when they were found. The doctor could only say that at some time in the night they had both died peacefully without any obvious disturbance. On the bedside table stood a card – a Christ Mass card, and in it had been written- “we love our Lord, we love our family, we love the world and are ready to continue serving the Christ”
© davo
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