2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Mary Mc Donald wiped the tears
from her eyes as the memories flooded into her mind. She leaned back into her
armchair and sighed heavily. "No one should be alone for Christmas"
she spoke aloud as if protesting to someone- anyone who would listen- but she
knew there was no one to hear her. No one cared enough to want to spend their
Christmas day with an eighty nine year old misery like her.
Closing her eyes Mary let her
mind drift back to the days when her life had been happier. When she had been
so busy with little time to sit and think. Now it was all she had to do and
time had little meaning to her.
A smile flickered on her face
as she remembered her Husband Mark and the beautiful Christmas gifts he used to
bring her every Christmas morning. They always had made Christmas 'special'
because they were married on 'Boxing Day' so celebrated their anniversary as
well. "A Double helping of happiness," as Mark would say, giving her
a kiss.
Mary's thoughts were
interrupted by a loud knocking on her front door and she jumped, startled by
the unexpected sound. She shivered as she struggled to her feet slowly and made
her way to the door, wondering who could be calling on Christmas day.
When Mary opened the door she
stepped back in surprised to see her Brother and sister-in-law standing there.
"Surprise" they said smiling. "Martha, Paul but how." she
exclaimed. Martha interrupted her by giving her a hug. "We are here Mary
and that's all that matters isn't it. Now are you going to let us in or are we
going to stand here all day?" Martha smiled as Mary kissed her and Paul
put his arm around his sister. Overwhelmed with emotion Mary could only let her
brother take her arm and walked into the house together.
They had not seen each other
for years and there was so much news to 'catch up' on, but they had barely sat
down when her Brother Peter walked in the back door. "Merry Christmas Sis'
he said grinning from ear to ear. "Hi Paul, Martha, long time no see. He
said nodding his head to them. Mary just burst into tears of joy." Ohh
peter this is wonderful," she said as he kissed her on the forehead as he
had always done since they were children.
"To think I was feeling so
lonely just a few minutes ago, thinking I was going to have yet another
Christmas all by myself." She had not felt so happy for a long time and
soon they were all chatting away like excited young children.
The time passed quickly and too
soon Peter said he must go. Mary knew her lovely Christmas day would soon be at
its end and she would be alone again. "Do you have to leave Pete? You
could stay the night if you like." Peter could see the sadness on Mary's
face, but knew he had to leave. " I really do have to go Mary, but Paul
and Martha will stay for a while. Won't you Paul? He said turning to his
Brother as he spoke.
Paul and Martha nodded and
Peter kissed his sister goodbye and left hurriedly. Telling Mary he would see
her again very soon. It wasn't until a little later when Martha told Mary they
saw Peter nearly every day that Mary thought it was strange, after all she had
not seen Peter for at least two years herself and she knew he lived even
further away from Paul and Martha.
Seeing the puzzled look on
Mary's face Martha quickly told her she would understand soon. Mary was even
more puzzled than before and started asking questions. She remembered that
Peter, Paul and Martha had all died years ago! She gasped and fell back into
her chair. What was she doing? Had she gone completely mad? Were they all in
her imagination? She began to cry." Mary please don't cry," Martha's
voice broke through Mary's sobs. " Look Mary someone has come to see you,
now you will understand." Mary looked up and wiped the tears from her eyes
with trembling hands.
"Mark, Ohh Mark is that
really you"? She couldn't believe her eyes. Her Husband Mark was standing
beside Paul smiling. His arms outstretched toward her. Mary she ran into his
arms. Ohh yes, she knew the answer now. Mark had passed away more than ten
years ago. She knew she would never spend another lonely Christmas.
Mary's body was found sitting
in her armchair the next day- Boxing day- There was a contented smile on her
face. The words on the card in her hand read,
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DARLING! All
my love Mark!
What a glorious day that will
be when we get to be with those again that have gone ahead of us. This
Christmas let’s take the time to remember those that God has put in our life.
Dear Lord, we thank You for
the Christmas season. We pray for those that have lost a loved one. But rejoice
because of Christmas we know we will meet You and our loved ones again in
heaven someday. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
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