Christmas Communion

They came to the door all dressed up... some in their Sunday best and some in their Saturday night stepping out best... bearing gifts for Ebony and her family... faces warm and welcoming... arms open with hugs waiting... It was a night to remember.
And the food, oh the food was wonderful. Pat’s pork roast, Michael’s lemon chicken, Emily’s birthday cake, Pam’s cheesecakes, eclair cake, the raspberry tart cheese cakes, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, the broccoli salad, hot cranberry fruit mix, and the Wright’s traditional escalloped oysters, spanokopita, the wine and cider, collard greens cooked just right, potato salad. My favorite was the latkes with apple sauce and sour cream prepared by Todd on his first night of Hanukkah... a tray full of crisp brown fried latkes... a taste filled reminder of his religious tradition.
Michael and I had set up tables so everyone could sit to eat. Some dined in the bedroom, some in the away room, some in the kitchen, others in the dining room. Ruth Ann and Dianne came early to help set up. They were lifesavers in the last minute rush using their creativity to set the last two tables up. Tablecloths, cloth napkins, candlelight, conversation, Christmas communion over a potluck supper...
Claire and Tucker began the program with an inspiring rendition of Alvin and the Chipmunk’s Christmas Song sung in fine chipmunk voice. A disheveled game of White Elephant Gift followed with children hawking their presents to anyone who truly desired gold hair spray or four robin’s egg candles. The dreaded fruitcake got left in Courtney’s closet so it did not make a return appearance this year. But, there is always next year. We sang a carol and resumed our real program, visiting.
In the kitchen, women and men washed dishes, dried and put away dishes, gathered up food, laughed and worked together cleaning up the residue of our meal. I lost count of how many dishwasher loads they ran but I am grateful for their Marthaism in my kitchen. I am not a possessive kitchen keeper.
It was an untidy, unruly and utterly satisfying party. And, the final act was perfect in its own way. As folks began to leave, Tam came back in to ask, “Did you know your horses and donkeys are out?” No, I didn’t know but there they were, grazing in the front yard. Shirley and Kate wanted Tam’s leftovers really bad and tried to sneak a taste while she loved on them. They all roamed down the hill to mama’s yard. While I helped Megan put our four grandsons to bed (one of the two year olds was spending a night away from his mother), Michael, Tara, David and Diane had a horsey roundup.
Tara, God love her, walked the donkeys up the hill wearing heels. She deserves a special medal. David, Diane and Michael followed the horses as they ran down to the paved road and finally got them back on the farm. Closing gates behind them, they left them to roam during the night. Did I mention the temperature was dropping rapidly as a gusty wind blew a norther through our mountains? Our low was to be seventeen last night and I think it must have hit it early.
I wonder if Mary and Joseph were lucky enough to be traveling with friends on their way to Bethlehem. I hope so. Good food shared, warm hugs offered as anchors when life’s uncertainties swamp us, laughter under starlight, runaway donkeys for comic relief, the warmth of loving care that tempers the blasts of harsh winter... these make life worth living even when our faith falters. Someone is there to lean on, laugh or weep with, be the skin faces of God for us when our vision is blurred and our hope is hopeless. Christmas Communion over latkes and laughter... Thanks be to God.