The end of another year. What a year full of change, challenges and chaos. Christmas a time of joy and hope but also a sense of loss as each year is another milestone in the grieving process.
Christmas, the office Secret Santa – what a great tradition. Everyone puts their name into a hat, a price is set and away we go and buy a gift with a price limit. It all goes like clockwork if everyone plays their part, like turning up on the designated day.
This year there was one absent member which meant someone was not going to get a present. We tried to work who got who but that didn’t work. So we all sat together as I was wearing a red jumper I played Santa. Guess who didn’t get a present – drumroll – yes me! To say I was annoyed is an understatement. So many questions in my head – why put your name in if you had no intention of participating? How can you let people down with no conscience about the impact?
Parallel to my story, my daughter had a big fallout with her friend group so her ‘just harmless fun Secret Santa’ fell apart. It caused her a lot of pain for a few days she didn’t want to go to school. Eventually they all made friends but during that time she had to deal with betrayal and isolation – I wouldn’t want to be a teenager again.
Then it dawned on me the message ‘better to give than receive’. What is Christmas about? Well it is about God giving his greatest gift to the world – his son Jesus. A sacrificial gift that lasts through eternity. I didn’t need the Secret Santa gift – it wasn’t going to change my life. I just had to get over it.
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