Meaningful Reflection: 12 Days of Reflections Part 2

You are invited to read the following reflections, which were submitted by employees of USA Health. We appreciate all of those who shared their hearts and gave us permission to share these reflections. As we reflect, it is important to remember the stories of joy, those of challenge, people who are with us, and those who have left their legacies of love for us to carry forward in hope. You may read a reflection per day the 12 days before Christmas, the last 12 days of the year, or a reflection every other day for the month of December. Enjoy and share! The first six stories were shared on December 3. 

7. Sights and Smells of Christmas

By Lisa Cobb
Human Resource Business Partner, Children's & Women's Hospital

As a little girl, my reflections of the Christmas season are about all the sights and smells of Christmas in my grandmother's home in Madison, Georgia. My eyes can easily fill with tears as I pause to reflect on these cherished times. Our family gathering was on her cattle farm that was spacious and beautiful. Her home smelled of pine from the fresh tree cut from her property along with all the glorious scents from her kitchen. My family was large and loving, with cousins everywhere. The center of her home was the kitchen, which I can still see vividly in my mind today.

My grandmother was faith-filled and never let the true meaning of Christmas be diluted with the busy holiday. My father would read the Christmas story from scripture, and we all sat quietly to listen. We would then all pile into the pews of her sweet small church for the Christmas service, most of us falling asleep before the ending.

As I reflect on the memories, I'm reminded of the true meaning of Christmas and the love that is shared with our family, friends and community during this holiday season. It's a new beginning of hope and dreams as the year ends and another begins. My wish to all is for the gift of Hope to live within our hearts and spread to others through the lights, sights and fragrance of the holiday season.

8. Gathered Around the Table

By Henry Thomas
Chaplain, Spiritual Health and Counseling

Growing up, Thanksgiving and Christmas time with family was special to me. I just never  realized how special until I would spend these holidays out of the country. I was working as a electronic technician for Harris Corp., Satellite Communication Division, in Melbourne, Florida. My parents traveled to Alaska with our pastor, family and friends.  My brother was married, and my sister was staying with her friends while mom and dad were gone. Harris had expressed a need for technicians to operate an earth station in Saudi Arabia. I had expressed interest in going and assisting the company – maybe January 1980, but that was not to be. Everything would be in place for me to leave sooner. I was cleared medically, and my passport was in order. I would be flying out of Melbourne, Florida, before Thanksgiving and would be there for 90 days. I would miss my parents since they would return the weekend before Thanksgiving. We talked over the phone and said our goodbyes.  

Upon arrival in Saudia Arabia, I learned that I would fill in for another tech named Robert, who was going on holiday. I covered the earth station in a city in northwestern Saudia Arabia and the capital of Al Jawf Providence, named Sakakah. The site ran 24/7 with the assistance of diesel engines. The 20-meter antenna kept the radio, television and telephones connected to the satellite. I had a Toyota pickup available to me. Robert showed me around the city and assisted me in communicating with local men who spoke English and could help with any emergency that came up. Fortunately, there were no emergencies, and I got to know many of the other nationalities in country who were assisting the country and providing services to the homes and businesses in Sakakah.

During my stay in Sakakah, I was invited to the Korean camp for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Yes, I missed my family, but we were family gathered around the table. Barriers were broken, and our hearts were encouraged, and faith was lifted as we shared a meal, stories, hopes and dreams. We sang hymns recognizing a common faith, hope and trust in a living God. These times of celebration were beyond what I had experienced. I have joined with family and friends in celebrating many Thanksgivings and Christmas holidays since then. Every celebration was different. We change and grow. We are the same, but we are all different, but I always seek what makes us a united body.

9. Decorating the Tree

By Sharon Ezelle
Director, Quality and Safety

This season is not only a season of rejoicing but of reflection. We rejoice in knowing the true meaning of this special holiday time. That true meaning gives us hope, peace and joy. However, as we reflect on holidays past, we can bring the joy of memories of our family traditions.

Our family tradition includes the reading of “Keeping Christ in Christmas through decorating the Christmas tree story.” As we know, the Christmas tree originated in many countries. People who settled in America brought traditions with them, one of which was using an evergreen tree as their Christmas tree. The reason for selecting the evergreen tree was because all other trees lost their leaves in the fall, appearing dead, but the evergreen stayed green all year long. The evergreen tree symbolizes everlasting life. The top of the tree always points upward, pointing mankind to God.  

The Christmas tree decorating story is told by each member of the family. The script to read covers the meaning of each item we use to decorate our Christmas tree. There is symbolism of placing specific things either on, under or near the Christmas tree and how they relate to the real meaning of Christmas. The most meaningful Christmas tree items we place on or near the tree are these:

• The star – the star that led the wise men to the manger.
• Three wise men – a Persian word for men that were experts in the study of the stars.
• The lights – lights on the tree that remind us that baby Jesus is the light of the world.
• The gifts – The gifts under the tree remind us of God’s gift to us, His son.
• The angels – angels that are the heavenly hosts who bring good news to the world.

The story gives us a moment to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas and how the Christmas tree tradition represents it.

10. When the Holidays are not Your Favorite Time of the Year

By Lorie Evans
Activity Coordinator, Child Life

When I was a child, the stores did not start displaying Christmas items in July. Holidays were special, and there was quiet time in between those special days. I feel now that everyone is rushing from one holiday to the next without appreciating the ordinaries of life in between. There is sacred space in regular days. When the decorations from one holiday come down, there is nothing wrong with going back to your regular rituals. We don’t have to quickly jump to the next special event. Observing the everyday routine and allowing it to just flow make the holidays extraordinary.

Now if you are one of those people who has the tree up year-round because that makes you happy, carry on. I’d love to hear how you decorate it each month. We have to appreciate the fact that we do not all find joy in the same places. We can wonder, watch, learn and delight in the traditions of others.

If you are like me, though, your chest may tighten the moment the flags from Labor Day come down and the pumpkins sprout up. There are two reasons: For one, there is a great deal of pressure that comes with the perfection of the holidays and the desire to make the holiday season as busy as possible. Everyone begins posting pictures online of their perfectly decorated yards and homes. They share recipes of beautifully displayed meals. What they do not share are stories of the child who cut a big hole in their costume the day of the play, or the candles that fell over and caught the tablecloth on fire, or all the yelling that went on because everyone is absolutely at the end of their rope juggling all of this. They probably also don’t post the laughs and happy tears shed when everyone realizes it may just be normal to narrowly escape disaster season after season.

The second reason is the grief that bears down during the holiday season. I do not know what it is you may have lost, because it may not always be as easy to see as the empty chair at the table. It may be those baby clothes you desperately want to buy, but the pregnancy test still reads negative. It may be the house you lived in for the past 20 years you recently sold. It may be that you are in a new job or a new town and you feel completely alone, and you grieve those who used to be a part of your holiday season. This is what we call disenfranchised grief, and those around you probably don’t even know how hard this time of year is for you.

So, what do we do about all of this? I do not have the answer. That lies deep within you. Think about what it is you want from this holiday season. Be selfish with this list you create. Then decide what is within your control. The holidays are a season of priorities and negotiations.

Take some time to think about your ultimate holiday wish list. My guess is it does not include that many material items. Study the list. What can you change? What can you negotiate? What can you make happen? If it all falls apart, give yourself some grace. Celebrate the ordinary as well as the special.

11. 54 Christmas Stockings

By Jill Elliott, MPA, SPHR
Manager, Human Resources Information Systems

My younger brother, Paul, passed away suddenly at age 55 in June of this year. He was 21 months younger than me, as my mother always pointed out, not a full two years. There are five children in my family with a 20-year gap between the oldest and the youngest. Paul and I were the two youngest, and because of the age gaps, we were almost like a separate set of children.

This Christmas has me reflecting on Christmases that we shared. First, we did not get a tree until the day that school got out for Christmas break so usually around the 20th or 21st. That seems unheard of these days, when I put up a tree the day after Thanksgiving.

I still watch some of the same TV specials we did, like “Charlie Brown Christmas,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” and “Frosty the Snowman.” Gifts were never wrapped. Santa did not have time for that! I remember Santa and my mother setting up gifts in sort of tableaus or scenes. For instance, one year, I remember we got a small children’s card table, and at the table were a teddy bear for Paul and a doll for me. They were sitting at the table eating with a children’s dinnerware set.

There was the Fisher Price automobile garage, Easy Bake Oven, Candyland, racecar track, trainset, walkie-talkies, roller skates, and always books. I remember that Santa was always able to deliver gifts preassembled (never in a box) to the backyard like a merry-go-round, a swing set, or a trampoline, with no one waking up. And I will never forget the stockings.

My parents were always the oldest of all of my friends’ parents, born in 1921 and 1926, so children of the Depression. Unlike what people receive today in stockings, like gifts and car keys, we got the basics: nuts in the toe of the stockings, an orange, an apple, a banana, a box of Cracker Jacks, and sparkles. Every year was exactly the same. 

My mother continued the tradition until Paul and I were adults. Before my mother died 12 years ago, she told me to please take care of Paul. Until his last Christmas, he always came over to my house on Christmas Day, and we exchanged gifts. Because of the promise I made my mother, I always made him a stocking like she did. I remember my sisters saying that it was ridiculous that I did this, and I sort of agreed. Regardless, something told me to continue the tradition with the exact same content.

This will be the first time in 54 years there will be no stocking for Paul. I’m glad I followed my intuition and kept up the tradition for the past 12 years. This year, if something tells you to make a stocking for someone, no matter how old they are, or how ridiculous it seems, do it. Next year may be too late.

12. Act of Kindness

By Lorie Cox, RN

A simple act of kindness or a smile can make someone’s day. You never know what someone is going through; a smile may be just what they need to brighten their day. Working in mental health, I have learned that being nice, no matter what, makes a world of difference to someone when they are feeling down or going through something difficult.

As the great Dolly Parton says, “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours!” And, who doesn’t take Dolly’s advice?