(This Surfacing column first published Thursday, December 16, 1999)
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| Photo by Luis Quintero from Pexels |
AT CHRISTMAS, my parents’ love – evident all year long – encircled me and my siblings in an even heartier hoop of buoyant generosity and sanctuary.
Was it because we always had the best toys, eats, everything? Yes and no. See, it was actually the tremendous, nurturing effort that our parents put into making our childhood Christmas Days beautiful and fulfilling, that gave true joy to the world. They loved us and they wanted us to know. They loved us because they loved each other.
Made happy
Each of us – their children – was a creation of that love which they had pledged to each other would last for a lifetime. All over the world there are couples such as my parents, doing as my parents did. All over the world there are children who are happy, as I was happy, as a result.
Every year, there are couples who share their first Christmas as a husband and wife: a beginning of who knows what festive traditions.
People in this country are fond of pointing out how many “Carnival-babies” are born each year. But how do young spouses in love bring in Christmas morning? Let’s all see if we can guess … I contend that we also have quite a bit of Leo/Virgo babies born in Trinidad and Tobago on a yearly basis.
I bet it can be a wonderful thing waking up to a caring wife or husband on a special holiday such as Christmas.
Love goes back
I, too, shall awaken to a “lifemate”: the husband of my heart, soul and spirit for the last year, eight months and 25 days … but who’s counting. Even when we get sidetracked along the path of life, the love always goes back to the “true love.”
I guess that is what makes a real marriage, to me. Not the paper. Not the church. Not the flowers, guests or money spent. It is the simple, basic fact that the love living in the heart will never die; never go out.
Some people make it impossible for us to ever exactly spend a holiday alone again (how fitting that HE bears the same name as “the disciple that Jesus loved”). My beloved will be in my heart this Christmas and for every other in my lifetime; as my mother, though deceased, will be in my father’s heart.
All who truly loved will remain in the hearts of those they were truly loved by.
But the magic between those who love and can be together – to build a life, to make babies and traditions and more magic and love – continues to be the most enigmatic blessing in the world.
So here’s to the love that leads to the union that leads to forever … and ever.
There is such love that sends forth a light which sparkles as sweetly, as brightly and as Godly as the Christmas star. As long as there is such love, let us all hope and pray that it will, for all eternity, shine on.
For insightful inroads into my land, link to: Trinbago Come Good blog
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