Covid tries to steal Christmas

What a week. 

What a year.

Who isn’t absolutely sick of, if not with, Covid right now?

Even if we haven’t directly lost anyone to Covid, the ripple effects of loss are continuing for us all.

Last week, I was feeling super excited that I had almost got to the start of this much awaited break.

Then the news we had all expected arrived.  In dribs and drabs the restrictions were increased and tightened until it basically felt like Christmas had been cancelled.

In addition I found out that two close friends and their partners had tested positive.  Who hasn’t had it themselves or knows someone who has?

Suddenly the anticipation preceding my break turned in to a horrible flat, energy and excitement stealing low.  And then the tears came. I just let them.

Whilst speaking to a friend the night before, she reminded me that I’m usually pretty good at allowing my sadness to come, feeling and acknowledging it and trusting it to pass.  With this in mind I allowed it to do just that.  And when it did my capacity for appreciation was restored and enlarged.

There are so many overt losses as a result of Covid from lives to livelihoods.  This reality must not be diminished or belittled in any way.

But there are also numerous covert losses, most recently of the hopes and plans we had for Christmas.  It cannot be what we wish or want it to be and it is totally natural to feel sad about that.

The more friends I speak and listen to, the more I realise just how many of us are experiencing these low waves of sadness and generally unwanted feelings followed by a renewed surge of gratitude for what we do have.

Whilst riding my bike through the picturesque local villages last Sunday, I was reminded that whilst it felt like Covid had stolen Christmas, in reality nothing can steal Christmas.  

Christmas is about our capacity to care for, to show love to, to be there for even when we cannot be there with each other.  And nothing can steal that.

Covid is forcing us to become ever more imaginative in how we continue to be there for one another as well as making us increasingly more dependent on technology to do so.

But we can and we must continue to be there with each other in spirit if not in body.  We can continue to connect, to share, to laugh and cry with each other no matter what.

My hope on this most unnatural of Christmases, is that none of us would allow the presence of Covid to obstruct our view of what Christmas and life are actually about.

My prayer is that we may each continue to know and experience the love of God Almighty Himself today and beyond for it is His love that enables us to endure all things.  And if you don’t believe in Him, may you know and remain connected to those around you, who love you.

No one and no thing can steal the true meaning of Christmas from any of us.

Sending out Christ filled love to all, especially those who are alone through circumstance rather than choice.