Saturday, December 23, 2006

A Christmas Message

This is the best segue I can come up with to explain why I haven’t posted anything in a while – life happens. You see…I’m a fixer. If something is broken, I feel compelled to try and fix it. I am also the person my family and friends turn to when they need advice, an opinion or just someone to lean on. I’m not complaining. I’m happy to be there for people when they need me. However, as we all know, there is much in life that we can’t change or prevent – disease, heartbreak, death – and we all have to take the good with the bad. Too bad we can’t get equal doses of bad and good. My family and friends have had more than their share of the bad this year and I’ve suffered along with them, which explains my absence. I needed to take some time to deal with my emotions too.

This brings me to Christmas. I didn’t want the holiday to pass without sharing something with you. My aunt sent me these pictures of an albino fawn that some friends of hers found in rural Wisconsin several months ago. (Her friends claim albino deer are very rare – only one in a million births – but I couldn’t verify that.) The deer was in the road and they almost ran it over. Concerned, they pulled over to the side of the road to watch and see if it's mother would come, but she never showed up so they took it home. They were worried a car would hit it. They only kept it a few days, feeding it formula from a baby bottle, until they could find a rescue farm willing to take it in and raise it. The deer is safe now and will have a home for life.

I think mankind shares a commonality with this fawn that is especially meaningful during this holiday season. The fawn is rare and unique, but so are you and I and every person in this world. The fawn was also vulnerable and needed help. How often do we find ourselves in the same situation? We all need help at times and, equally important, we all have the capacity to help in some way.

That is the message I carry in my heart at Christmas. You may believe Jesus is the Messiah - or you may believe he is a prophet or important historical figure. Whatever you believe, Jesus was a loving role model of how we should all act toward one another. Our world would be a better place if we all remembered that no matter what our beliefs.

Merry Christmas.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful heartwarming post.

You have been missed, but your absence is understandable.

Thank you for the good cheer and the best to you and your family.

Lew Scannon said...

A Merry Green Christmas to you as well, Kathy.

Anonymous said...

Kathy

To me the white fawn is symbolic of the innocent and divine nature we all share within us and with all creation. Thank you for such an unusual discovery, the photographs, and your lovely message. Some years ago I saw an enormous albino stag wander out of the woods not too far from where I live. He was absolutely magnificent! I was just dumb-struck. No time to do anything but record the image of this incredible creature indelibly in my memory, before he turned back into the forest. I felt my own uniqueness that day in seeing his, just as you remind us all to do in your post.

Best to you and have a wonderful Christmas.

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family, Kathy.

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Kathy! I hope you have a less stressful 2007.

Anonymous said...

Great post, Kathy. It's the true spirit of Christmas, not the mad annual rush at the malls.

I've been reading your posts for some time now, and I'm not surprised you're your family's go-to person. I'm sure they're grateful for having you.

Wishing you and yours a healthy and happy new year...

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful deer! Merry Christmas to you and yours.

Anonymous said...

Reminds me of the perfect without spot lamb of God. God Bless

Kathy said...

Thanks everyone for the wonderful messages. I've missed everyone! I think I'll have to get back to posting on a regular basis.

I'm going to Pennsylvania for a few days to visit family. I left a new post today, but if I don't get a chance to write again before the New Year, I want to wish everyone a healthy and happy 2007!

Libby Spencer said...

Beautiful post and so good to see you back on the blog. Happy New Year to you and yours Kathy.