Sleep in Heavenly Peace

It is Christmas Day and it is gloriously sunny and warm- in the mid 60s.  It is quiet here in the Palm Springs area.  Just had a wonderful Christmas lunch- ham with all the trimmings.  My friends are watching a DVD...Valkyrie...starring Tom Cruise.  (Delightful holiday film, fun and frothy!)  
Last night I attended Christmas Eve services at St. Louis church in Cathedral City.  The church was overflowing and the music was so wonderful.  Everyone sang and it did not matter whether you could carry a tune or not.  The Gospel recounted the birth of Jesus and the homily was a wonderful holiday popourri of stories that told the holiday message without being too preachy.  One of them was as follows...
One Christmas Eve a young boy was looking at the stores and their displays.  His final stop was a pet store and he noticed a sign on the window that stated "Puppies for Sale."  He entered and the owner asked if he could help him.  The young boy asked how much the puppies were.  The shop keeper replied that the prices ranged from fifty to one hundred dollars.  The boy said he wanted to see them and eventually a dog and her litter came to the front.  There were five healthy puppies.  A straggler came slowly behind the healthy litter.  The boy said that he only had two dollars and thirty-seven cents.  He wanted to buy the straggler.  The owner said that he would give it to him free because the puppy was born with hip problems and would not be able to run and play like any other dog.  The boy didn't care and offered to pay a dollar a month until the puppy was paid for.
The man reiterated why did he want a dog that was not worth much.  The boy then lifted his pant leg and the owner saw a twisted leg with a metal brace.  The young lad stated that he could not run and play like his friends and that at least the doggie would understand him if he had the same problem.  And again he would pay full price to show that the puppy was worth the same as its healthy siblings.
It brought a tear to my, as well as other stories the priest told.  The most dramatic, if you will, was after Communion.  The meditation song was Silent Night with all the lights in the church off, save for the Nativity and holiday lighting.  I could not get through the third line as tears formed in my eyes remembering all my loved ones who are in heaven...Mama, Tia Luisa, Frank, Sister Louise.  Remembering my families....the Perezes, the Gonzalezes, the Mondoys, the Ellisons.  Remembering my friends Ron, Jon, Denise, Miz O,  Ismael, Dan.  Remembering all the children I have taught and teach...from 1982 to the present.  The men and women in our armed forces and police and fire departments.
After Mass I felt so happy and full of the Christmas spirit.  It is a joyous time that I wish we could keep all year.
Sometimes I feel that I am missing a special person in my life.  Yes, I would like that someday, but I am so fortunate and blessed to have wonderful people around me who love me and I love them back.
Merry Christmas!  Feliz Navidad.  Buon Natale!  Joyeaux Noel!
I even spoke to my dear friend Aidan.  He sounded good and will be retiring in January.  Be good to your friends and keep in touch.  Don't wait til they're gone to say you love and appreciate them!