Christmas Eve Reflections

Strolling our way through Maadi this week, Karen Perry and I went about taking photos and enjoyed the relative quiet that a holiday in Egypt brings. Many expats (people who are not from this country), especially westerners,  take their vacations during this time. As we walked I was struck by the commercialism for Christmas this predominantly Muslim country offers. Mainly it is just in this area, where many foreigners live. Outside of Maadi one would be hard pressed to find  Christmas decorations, colored papers, or pretty ribbons and cards intended for Christmas giving. It is another day like any other in the Muslim life. I kind of like it this way.  We are not bombarded with the hottest toys of the season whether for the 4 year old or the 40 year old in the house!  Our mailboxes are not full of sale ads for weeks before Christmas. Mall-o-mania just isn’t here!

 The cooler weather brings out some beautiful flowers. This bouganville looks "Christmasy".

This wall says "I Am Maadian"
Maadi is the area we live in.

The plant shops sell poinsettias, Christmas cactus and evergreen (Cedar and a few pine) trees. Outside the stationery stores we can find sheets of  colorful Christmas paper displayed on racks, for sale. Some of the bookstores have Christmas cards depicting Santa as a heiroglypic form in an ancient tomb, or with Santa on a Camel near the pyramids. What you won’t see here are manger scenes, or ornaments depicting shepherds, angels, or wisemen--at least not outside a westerner’s home. Santa seems to be acceptable in this environment, and local people with greet me with, “ Merry Christmas!”

Our "SpongeBob" tree.
Looks like something off the
cartoon! It holds our
handblown ornaments.

I like that we have to search things out to make our homes ‘Christmasy’  While we are not  inundated with media pushing the latest gadget or advertising 50% off the second sweater, or insisting that “this” is the perfect gift for that certain someone who is hard to please, we do have opportunities to buy some things to make our homes Christmas cozy.  This year I brought some silk poinsettias back in my suitcase to decorate with. I went to the Khan el-Kalili for hand-blown ornaments and decorations. The Khan is an ancient market place. The glass blowers there have learned that westerners like their baubles to hang on our trees, and so they have developed and designed things we will like. The ornaments are exquisite--besides the ball shaped ornaments, one can find camels, trees, stars, hearts, fish, feluccas, shisha pipes, Santas and more. If you have an idea, you can take it to them and they can blow it! It is amazing. 

More ornaments

Our church put on a Christmas Pagent. It is a highlight of our year for me. They use real camels and donkeys, insert some humor into the wise mens roles and uniquely and pointedly tell the True story of Christmas. This year most of the acting was done by kids from Maadi Community School. They did an excellent job. Their play reflected the times that Egypt is experiencing with the revolution that took place last winter while telling the story of Christ’s birth; all in a way that was entertaining and evangelical. 

We went to several company dinners/parties. We had a cookie exchange at Mahjong. What a variety of cookies and candies there were! Sam and I brought a RoKU box back with us so we had internet radio and some Christmas channels on our TV. We pulled out our 45th anniversary edition of Its A Wonderful Life on VHS, no less, and watched it last weekend. Oh, the memories of good times in our old house with good friends and Christmases past it brought up!  

One thing I have been reading this year is The Journey by Adam Hamilton, the pastor at my parents church. It has been a daily devotion that has helped me to focus on the truth of the season.  

Tonight we went to the Candle light service and then came home to play dominoes with some friends. Sam has gone to bed since he has to get up early to go to the office  to take reports. I am doing what I normally do on Christmas eve. The stockings are stuffed, the cookies eaten, and I am sitting in the dark watching the Christmas tree lights twinkle. It is one of my favorite things to do. 

Having young children around on Christmas just makes everything about Christmas so dear. I love that we have a new grand daughter who is experiencing her first Christmas this year. I love that my 2 year old grand daughter can tell her mom she wants to call us, and then all she will say is, “Papa? Papa? Papa?”  She loves her Papa Sam!  I love to hear the oldest who is 4 tell me, “ Merry Christmas, Nana!”   I had a lot of fun shopping for them this year. I would love to hold them and tell them the Christmas story and snuggle kisses from them before bed. I am thankful for Skype which makes the distance bearable--and which we will be using tomorrow to see them as through a window into their living rooms

Gianna

Kaira

Emmalia 

I am saddened by the loss of our friends in Tulsa suffered this week in delivering their baby stillborn at 8 months. Our hearts ache for them.  I am aware of our own loss as Whitney Jill is spending her second Christmas with the Christ. Perhaps she and Elliot have met ... I am reminded of a young, inexperienced young mother who gave birth in adverse circumstances, knowing that her child would one day take on the sin of the world. He too would die and his death would break his mother’s heart.   Our children and grandchildren are precious gifts from God. They are truly a blessing!   Jesus is God’s gift to the world. Tonight’s sermon was about the gifts of Christmas. Our pastor said that Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving.  The gift we can re-gift and pass on to someone else. The only true lasting gift, and the only one that offers Eternal Life.

As 2012 is coming rushing up to greet me, I want to take the quiet moments this Christmas season has given me to reflect up on God’s greatest gift. This year, He is the Gift I will be regifting. God bless you and keep you, may his light shine upon you, and may we all go forth sharing that light this new year!