Welcoming the Wise Men

The last few years, a common phrase has become popular during this time of year..."Wise men still seek Him."  I love the turn of phrase and its deep meaning for this special feast day.  It is kind of a confusing holiday...is it Christmas or not?  It is still within the Christmas season, but it is not one of the 12 days of Christmas (the season actually lasts until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord...some even stretch it to the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd...more on both of these feasts later).

The real reason for this feast is to present the first revelation (or the actually meaning being manifestation) of Christ to the Gentile world.  Jesus really does come for salvation of ALL people!  This is the culmination of the Christmas season; however, at one time this was the feast of the nativity celebrated on the Eastern Church.  The Western Church did not celebrate Christmas until the sixth century.

In our own home, we moved the wise men along their journey around our house to the manger scene.  We also made a special meal and invited guests to our home for dinner.  We try to choose families who  do not celebrate the Christ in Christmas...choosing each year seems to happen with a little nudge from above.  I really leave it to prayer and see what happens.  This year we were able to have an elderly lady from our former church.  She called yesterday to check on us and I felt the urging to invite her.  It turned out that she would have been all alone.  Not only were we able to enjoy a meal and conversation with her, but sent a meal home with her as well.  We also invited Amanda's friend and mother to join us.  It really worked out because Amanda was going to their house to visit and I did not want her to miss our special family meal.  What better way to have the best of both worlds...more company and family!

Traditionally the home is blessed for the new year...blessing each door with a special prayer to bless all who enter the home.  We also have a special King's cake or bread made (I ran out of time this year as we just got home and had to sort out things after being away!).  The idea is to place a baby Jesus in the cake or bread...whoever finds the baby in their piece is especially blessed in the new year and is seated at a place of honor for the remainder of the day.  It is a fun custom that everyone enjoys.

In all of this festive celebration, we have not forgotten our remembrance of those in Newtown.  In fact, I had one of these special souls on my mind most of the day.  Vicki was one the teachers who had the grace and strength to protect her students...giving her very life for their safety.  She had placed her students in a closet when the shooter came into her classroom.  Supposedly, she had him convinced the students were in another part of the building, but they became frightened and tried to flee.  Vicki and these children were killed; however, seven students survived and told this story.

I especially thought of Vicki because she loved Christmas so much.  I read an article about how Vicki loved to decorate for Christmas so much that no one else dared taken the 'job' away from her.  How much harder it will be for her family to decorate with her gone!  I pray that her parents and siblings found peace in their memories during this holiday season through the Great Consoler.

Vicki was so filled with life...still living with her parents...she was very close to her parents and siblings.  Vicki loved to play jokes on her siblings, and she always wanted to be known as the 'fun' teacher. Yet, when she needed to take on danger she showed great courage and will always be remembered as a hero.

When designing the memorial quilt for Vicki, we tried to focus on the things she loved the most, especially her love for the color green flamingos, and Christmas.  Once again it seems to difficult to place just a small part of a life on a quilt.  We just pray it will bring to mind a small way to cherish her memory.