My Christmas Miracle

  Ten years ago, I was sitting with friends for lunch, and while we prayed, one person had a picture of my family sitting together as a family.  I had told them about my personal heartache, feeling like my family was anything but.  Emotionally distant and a broken relationship with my mother had scarred my heart.  Fast forward 10 years, and there has been some progress.  However, as of last Thanksgiving, old wounds were reopened.

     So...three weeks after was Christmas vacation.  I know what God said through Elijah’s story in 1 Kings 19:44-47.  “Go again.” Yet, I still was hesitant.  I was hopeful, still. I wanted better memories.  I wanted to enjoy my family, despite the present circumstance.  With faith, I ventured back to Missoula.

     All in all, I actually had a great time with my family.  After the tumultuous conversation with my father in November, I think he became more proactive to make sure TV wasn’t the center of the family.  He pulled out old family photos.  We found a lot of images of my grandmother (who passed away in 1998) in different hairstyles and fashions.  Grandpa led a boycott back in the ‘70s, over products whose advertisements were sensual.  Lastly, found out my aunt was a poet.  There was a saved paper, which is enlightening to something she had gone through.

     Dad brought out board games one night, too. Three rounds of Yatzee.  Danny had won all of them, but wanted to quit early.  With that statement, Dad said, “Aww...but I’m having fun.”  When Dad and I went to Spokane to visit my grandfather and cousin, we played some pool with my cousin.  Had fun at that time, too.

     Mom was still pretty introverted.  Stayed to herself and watched TV.  But I am learning to love her where she is at.  There was a moment where she let in on some of her frustrations.  Things I had guessed, but she never admitted vocally.  She is still a woman who still needs some healing. 

     So, do I keep going?  Yes.  This is my family, and though the journey has been emotionally painful, healing is eminent, because God is at work.  And He continues to be working.