A Christmas Story

+JMJ+

I am currently on the East Coast visiting Family...and would like to share "Glad tidings of Great Joy" and a Christmas Story with you.

I arrived at O'Hare Airport about 1.5 hours before my flight was scheduled to depart on Tuesday, 12/23. As my friend Michael was driving me to the airport, I had a sneaky suspicion I would not be taking off at 1:25 p.m. Check in complete, I made my way to terminal B9, I believe. To be expected, the crowd destined for Manchester, NH made me feel like I was already back in New England.

Less than 30 minutes later, our United representative informed us that our flight, indeed, was delayed. My anticipation confirmed, I decided to make good on the resolution I had made that morning while packing for the trip: I'd do my best to bring Christmas cheer to my fellow travelers. 

I found an appropriate spot, not too close but not to far...unpacked my flute, and began to play Christmas carols. I'm not a professional musician, but I've always loved music, and I received so much joy by sharing this simple gift with my fellow (frustrated) travelers. When they announced our gate change to C21, I packed up and found another spot in that terminal, and continued to play. Much to my delight, a gentleman who was cleaning the windows at the airport began to whistle along, and a little girl kept dragging her father back and forth to watch "the lady playing the Christmas music." People even said Merry Christmas :)

It was a little moment in the grand scheme of life, but I keep looking back upon our five hour delay as a miracle of grace for me. The gift of joy can never be overrated. As Pope John Paul the Great said so perfectly during his Theology of the Body messages, "Man cannot know himself except through a sincere gift of self." I pray that every day you may continue to have opportunities to give such sincere gifts of self!

Thank you for your presence in my life, for your friendship and prayers. I prayed for each of you at a little Polish Church in Hartford on Christmas eve, as well as during Midnight Mass. My prayer is that you may continue to grow in Christ's Love, and continue to be witnesses of His Mercy and Grace in our world that is suffering for want of Love! May Mother Mary hold you in her Mantel!