Lost in Christmas Emotion
Yesterday I sat between my daughter and a friend's daughter at our church's family Christmas eve service. There were poinsettias and angels and candles everywhere. The message was about love and life and Christmas, familiar stories told with language that moved me deeply. We sang the hymn "Star Child" in the middle of the sermon, and I was done for. I felt that wonderful, painful, upside down, happy and sad feeling that wells up in my rib cage and emerges through my tear ducts. I almost went into the "ugly cry" there for a moment. After the service was over, the mother of a very dear friend who was seated nearby grabbed me forcefully and hugged me like only a mama can; just what I needed. She spoke warmly in my ear, "Thank you for being my daughter's friend." Of course I welled up again. I felt overwhelmed as the reality of my blessings snapped into clear focus. I felt euphoric and filled wi...