Sing a Christmas lullaby

There's an indefinable softness about an expectant mother before it becomes really obvious she is carrying a babe inside.

Last week I ran into a young woman I hadn't seen in a while and guessed right. She confessed a whole gamut of joyous anticipation and apprehension about her first birth, but her smile spoke volumes too.

As it happened, the next day I heard the lyrical Paula Rockwell sing a “Christmas Lullaby” by Jason R. Brown. It's a beautiful song (you can listen to it on YouTube), but Paula singing, "I will be like Mother Mary with a blessing in my soul and the future of the world inside of me," prompted a rush of tears. In fact, I had to grope for a hanky.

Connie Kaldor's “Mother's Prayer” does the same thing to me. "I feel tied to every mother who has hunger in her eyes who must comfort when there's not enough to eat. Tell me where has the plenty gone and tell me what in the world is more important than these." She also weaves in themes about peace and power that as a mother I find instinctively moving.

All mothers identify with Mary at Christmas-time because the birth of Jesus as a human child symbolizes hope. New life deserves nurturing in a world that too often seems to be consumed with greed and violence.

Mary's simple acceptance of her role in the course of history continues to be a very powerful witness over two centuries later. So Christmas is a reminder of the need for hope as both mothers and fathers would agree.

Seniors embody season’s true meaning

Sitting down with a group of seniors Dec. 18 was another reminder of the true meaning of Christmas. Folks everywhere are trying to simplify the season and many are succeeding, but listen to a man of almost 90 talk about his youth when "presents were scarce. There were three girls in the family beside me and we got knitted stockings and a bag of candy. An orange was a luxury." "We got things we needed," another man told me, but he remembered with animation a red truck with lights powered by a battery."

Food triggers powerful memories of Christmas. I heard how in cities during the Great Depression some families depended on fraternal organizations, like the Masons, to provide a turkey while country families perhaps had an easier time finding food. Yeasted sweet breads and the Christmas fowl were central reminiscences.

Relationships figure large as well; a father who spent time with a little girl wrapping gifts, especially since he was to die young, prompt feelings of gratitude seven decades later.

One senior observed that public radio and television appear willing this year to mention the Christian roots of the holiday we all enjoy in December. In our secularized nation, there are those who are pleased now by a mention of the origin of Christmas. It never used to be that way. Schools had real Christmas concerts. Faith didn't have to be sanitized.

Neglected our spirituality

The senior folk said - this is Canada. Why do others take it away from us? We've neglected our spirituality and the fact we were founded on Christian principles.

How many hospitals and universities were founded denominationally, they asked. Surely we can embrace a larger concept of multiculturalism when it comes to religious celebrations. Mary represents all mothers and Jesus every babe born on this planet. The majority venerates a great fatherly spirit.

In all the ‘busyness’ of this season, I was amused to hear that the Irish have a wonderful custom of calling Jan. 6 Mother’s Christmas.

It is not a liturgical custom, but a grand idea all the same. On that day, the Irish say, mothers don’t have to do any work at all. Right now I'd happily settle for some quiet days without hustle and bustle.