How can that be? It feels like July here. There are no "Holiday Sale" signs in store windows. Christmas decorations are a rare sight. There is no talk about who is left to buy for or when to fit in all of the gift exchanges. In all of those ways it feels like anything but the December that 22 years in America has accustomed me to. And for all of those reasons, I can imagine that a lot of people back home are thinking, "Poor Risa. She won't get to spend the holidays with her family. She won't have gifts to open on Christmas."
But that's not the case at all. I am beyond excited to celebrate a Christmas free from the commercialization and materialistic display that it has become in the developed world. For the first time in years, I'm not hurrying to get the PERFECT GIFT for each of my loved ones. I am not recovering from the stress of final exams. I am not overindulging in all of the special treats that the holidays bring. Rather, I get to spend a lot of time with boys who don't really have families. I get to enjoy the Advent services that Pastor Mwila has given to prepare us for Christmas. I get to be pleasantly surprised every time I see a Christmas tree instead of expecting every "hall to be decked".
And as far as the family part of Christmas...
Of course I will miss Christmas Day with my parents and my grandmother. And celebrating with my boyfriend and all of my best friends. But the people we have met here are as good a substitute as I could ask for! The boys at Dayspring, the staff at Kambalange (our hostel), Ivor - they are my Zambian family. That's what the holidays are all about, right? Celebrating the birth of a little baby, not a fat man coming down the chimney with gifts. Enjoying time together with people you love, not stressing over the house being perfectly decorated or Christmas dinner being ready on time. Rejoicing in the promised freedom that God made manifest over 2000 years ago. One of my really great friends included the following in her email this week:
7. MERRY CHRISTMAS. I pray you are not saddened at what you are missing this Christmas, but that you are rejoicing at the simplicity of receiving the only gift that matters. Praise God that you are not clouded by the unnecessary supplements that, while nice, seem to make us a little more numb to the glory of the gift of Jesus Christ. This thing called awe. Practice it this Christmas while you have nothing blocking your view.
What He promised is what He gave.
Ironically, I had already started writing my blog post and through her message, God just affirmed that I was writing what He wanted.
Dayspring Church is having a Christmas service and luncheon on Sunday. Ava Michelle and I have volunteered to make macaroni and cheese- not common in Zambia so either everyone will love it or no one will eat it. I'll let you know how it goes. Then Lillian has invited us to her house for Christmas so we will spend at least part of the day with her family. We have set up Secret Santa with the boys (2 rules: 1. Keep it a SECRET. 2. Gifts have to be homemade). Hopefully we will be able to do our exchange with them on Christmas Day as well. I am super excited/interested to see how it turns out.
So it may not look like Christmas here in the sense of the weather or the decor or financial expenditure. But the reminder that we are dearly loved children of a God who rejoices over every little thing we do is a pretty good illustration of the holiday season.
May you celebrate in all ways glorifying to Jesus and the promise he came to fulfill. May you enjoy this season and find rest, peace, and joy. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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