The end of a love story

The love story isn't over.

After 59 years and 11 months, after children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, after countless adventures and the quiet wasting years, she is gone. 

He was at church today.  Sitting alone.  He hasn't been there in months.  He has spent every Sunday morning at the nursing home with her.  Their pew sat empty awaiting a return that simply never happened. Seeing him today sitting by his son was bitter sweet.  We were all glad to have him but he was displaced.

Displaced is just the word.  He seems lost right now without her. It's no wonder.  He was married to her three times as long as he was alive without her.  

A Season of Sorrow

Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the magi. Then what had been spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled:

      “A VOICE WAS HEARD IN RAMAH,

            WEEPING AND GREAT MOURNING,

            RACHEL WEEPING FOR HER CHILDREN;

            AND SHE REFUSED TO BE COMFORTED,

            BECAUSE THEY WERE NO MORE.”

Christmas is a season of joy- “children laughing, people passing, dressed in holiday style.”

Christmas is a season of sorrow.  Mother’s weep under shining trees over flat bellies-babies lost or never conceived.  Tables heavy with holiday goodies have empty seats where spouses, parents, children, siblings passed or estranged used to sit.

There is a carol for a mourning Christmas-Coventry Carol.  If you’ve never heard it, the carol commemorates the massacre of the innocents, when the enraged Herod slaughtered every son of Bethlehem two and under.  With a lullaby of lamentation, the carol weeps with Rachel.

Think today of someone you know that may not be celebrating this Christmas.  Take a moment of compassion and let them know that you and Rachel join them in their tears.