I was supposed to post Monday, but I sat mulling over the 3rd part of my Christmas series which I planned to be about Christmas lunch.
I had an idea what I wanted it to be about but as time rolled on and things got busy and I didn’t feel the “groove” on my first idea. So I’m going to roll with this. (as I do most of the time – Isn’t flowing with the Holy Spirit just cool?)
At first I wanted to share some of my go to recipe’s. But I thought Nah. I have readers from all over the world. Some in America having cold winter snow would not want to sit and read about my Watermelon and Feta salad recipe and those celebrating a summer holiday definitely do not want to read my Ginger Apricot dumpling recipe. (Mouth watering already?)
So I asked myself this question. What makes a Christmas meal the one thing that families over generations carry so much value in?
Think about it. Birthday dinners come and go. Those odd celebratory dinners for an achievement at school or a new promotion at work. All good excuses to celebrate with friends and family over a meal.
But close your eyes and just say softly to yourself, “Christmas lunch” and think back of all the warm fuzzy feelings it might bring to you. The memories of old pop up in your mind’s eye like an old movie, so vivid you can hear the screeches of excited children’s voices with the opening of presents. You can almost smell your mom’s home cooked meal. Mouthwatering gammon and trifle for pudding with fresh cream and cherries. You can hear the laughter and jokes told across the table and afterwards everyone’s tummies filled to the brim that we would teasingly point out the “puppy syndrome” which is tummies full – eyes closed – just like puppies.
For us in South Africa, we have warm summer days greeting us on Christmas morning. We would usually open gifts on Christmas Eve or very very early on Christmas morning if we could stay brave long enough by dodging constant questions of “Is it time for presents yet?” After gifts, we will all line up for Church service and when service ends, everyone rushes back home to get busy in the kitchen, which is now too small for all the feet, to prepare the meal of the day.
Generations of women standing clucking in the kitchen preparing salads and Trifles. Fresh bread rolls and Glazed gammon ready to be sliced and enjoyed. The host lovingly takes out her great great grandma’s dinner service, which is laid out on a festive decorated table. While the men would chat about the latest Grand Prix race or the Rugby match and blame the referee for the losing points.
Kids would be in the pool working up an appetite or girls playing with their new baby dolls or barbies.
Fun. Joy. Family. Laughter. Hope. Peace. All this comes to mind when I think of days gone by with festive Christmas celebrations.
I know the last couple of years have not treated us all kindly. Some will have an empty spot at the table for family who have crossed the temporary with the eternal. Some that just cannot afford the next loaf of bread never mind a Christmas spread fit for a king. When everything just seems lost and hopeless or we have an ache in our heart that feels that nothing can fill it again. Christmas lunch seems to magnify what we don’t have.
It’s double sided value can be liberating, giving hope or it can be a sad reminder.
So I return to my first question. What makes it so special? Why can’t every meal be so special? A celebration of days filled with favor and grace? The reminder that we are provided for regardless if you had a slice of dry bread and water or a cooked meal?
We place value and importance on one day. But forget to look at all the other days that deserved a celebration.
I don’t want to sound negative or dismissive about Christmas. I just want to highlight the fact that there is a lot more to celebrate as well.
So not to go all mopey on you and bring you down. I want you to think of a memory that you hold dear. Climb back into it and enjoy it again. Play through your memory and laugh again at the corny joke your dad would tell or your mom faffing around to get everything ready. And if you have plenty this Christmas or nothing at all. Find your hope and joy in Christ. Hold on to the promise of His birth that we celebrate.
P.S I wont leave you wondering about the recipes. So click on the links for the Watermelon and Feta Salad recipe and Ginger Apricot Dumpling recipe. Let me know what you think.