I’ve experienced two very memorable Christmas Miracles that relate to my life, verses the birth of our Savior which is for all mankind. The first was in 1980 when I came home for Christmas. My first husband and I had three days to be home and be at 5 different homes – or so I thought. We saw his parents, then each of his grandparents – three visits down.
We then went to my home town 40 miles away. When I walked into my Grandmother’s my mom greeted me and then said “oh by the way, you’re dad will be at Christmas dinner”. Snotty 19 year old that I was I asked “yeah, who invited him Grandma?” She replied “no, I knew that you had limited time to be here and so I invited him.” To this day it’s still the best Christmas gift of my life. My parents separated when I was 4. I asked my dad for most of the child support payments and we just knew they were only civil in public. They had come together a couple of years before this to help my brother who was in some trouble with the law, and they had managed to be decent at my wedding, but I still didn’t expect this.
Today was my second Christmas Miracle. I’ve been divorced from my children’s father for over 23 years. Most of which have been very rocky, as much as that was never what I desired. I’ve just wanted peace. Seven years ago we managed to be civil for a few months after not speaking at all for the 5 years following our daughter’s high school graduation.
Four times over the last 7 weeks I’ve made trips to Kansas with my kids because their grandpa, my former father-in-law was very ill. With this 4th trip being for his funeral. Two days ago I was aware that my former husband wasn’t happy that I was coming. However, it was important to me that I be here to support my son as a pallbearer and my daughter as she would see her dad and speak with him for the first time in over 2 1/2 years, since due to circumstances she uninvited him to her wedding. It’s all a lot of emotions to deal with, and I wanted to be here for my former mother-in-law and other family. In addition, to say goodbye to a man who meant much in my life.
As it came time to leave for the family lunch I became a little anxious. While intending to keep my distance, that felt a little hard to do in a small town church with somewhere around 30 of us for lunch.
We arrived first and I went to the basement. A cousin that I worked with 30 years ago and I were visiting when I became aware of my daughter and her dad hugging. Then I became aware of him waiting for me. He hugged me, said he was sorry and he was glad I was able to come. It was a big change from two days ago.
Then as we were last to leave the graveside service he hugged our children and said he felt like there had been things on both sides (I do believe it’s often a two way street, and there is always perspective that comes into play.) Then I heard him say “Guess I’ve probably been the biggest a** of all, but let’s work on things, it’s what Pop always wanted.” (His mom told me as I hugged her to leave, that Pop had prayed for years for things to be resolved between Mike and Whitney, and Mike and Me.)
Matthew 18:20 (NIV) For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”
I asked many people to pray about today and I’m so grateful to be part of a village of praying people that brought the Father to be with us today.
Father, I thank you for the blessing of Christmas miracles as we all strive to be more like your Son who came to earth as a baby to be our Savior. We have hope of seeing our Pop in Heaven because of your grace, and we have hope in the restoration of our earthly relationships when we seek to be godly. Amen
Grace Under Pressure 
You are an inspiration to us all to forgive, trust God, and love. I’m blessed by you in many ways.
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Praising God from whom all blessings flow…
Jackie
“Make us Thy mountaineers, we would not linger on lower slopes” Amy Carmichael
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