Rememberance

Christmas--
that magic blanket that wraps itself about us,
something so intangible that it is like a fragrance.
It may weave a spell of nostalgia.
Christmas may be a day of feasting, or of prayer,
but always it will be a day of remembrance--
a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.

Augusta E. Rundell

A couple of days ago my Mom and I were out doing a little shopping for Christmas and she decided she wanted to go to Islands for lunch. Its one of her favorite burger places - she loves the fries and (thankfully) was able to eat them without to much of the normal difficulty.

She confessed to me that she was afraid of dying near Christmas and ruining Christmas for the rest of our lives. In all honesty it had crossed my mind. Would it change the way I felt about Christmas and the Holiday season? I don't think it would, it might even endear Christmas to me more.

In some ways it would seem fitting for her to leave this world and go to a more peaceful place right at her favorite time of year, surrounded by her decorations and the joy the holidays bring to her. The Holidays will always be filled with her memories and remind me of her. And even though I do not want her to leave us, I know that her memories will bring me peace and joy, including many of the memories we are making right now.

That quote above was read at the end of the ladies Relief Society meeting for the Church Ward that I grew up in. My Mom, I, and so many of the sweet women I have know since childhood could not hold back the tears as it was read. I cant speak for what the others were feeling and thinking of but I was weeping for the beauty of that last sentence:

...always it will be a day of remembrance - a day in which we think of everything we have ever loved.

This is a season of peace and there should be no better time to find everlasting peace than this month when we celebrate the birth of Him that gave us the gift of everlasting life.

Even if my Mom is called to her Heavenly home this month, it will be all right.