The Gift that Lasts

Christmas is in three days! How could that be? When I was preparing for this trip, I thought about Christmas a lot. What might it be like to be away from home? Who would I spend it with? Will I be sad? All of these questions ran through my mind as I scrambled to book flights and make plans in April. 

And somehow, that far off day is now almost here and I can't believe it. I have been intentionally taking time to reflect in the past couple of weeks, because there is a lot more to reflect on than I had realized. When I look back to the girl who boarded a plane in June with her green matching set, teddy bear, and whole life packed into a few bags, I see a girl who is very different from the one who is typing this right now. But that was expected. 

How could I travel the world, meeting new people, learning new languages, taking leaps of faith I never thought possible, and not be changed at least a little bit? When mentioning this to a friend, they were worried that I was going to change too much and not be the same Margeaux they once knew but that is not what I mean. At heart, I am the same Margeaux who loves stuffed animals, early morning flights, weird food concoctions and hugs. What has changed is my mindset and my attitude and that is impacting the way I am viewing Christmas this year. 

I will not lie to you, I am SAD. I really wish I could be home having a cup of coffee with my family while sitting around the glimmering lights of the Christmas tree with our puppy showering me in kisses. I have really struggled over the past week as I watch through social media, the gatherings and get-togethers that are happening in homes with Christmas trees and music all too familiar. I have struggled to understand exactly God's purpose for keeping me here in the DR rather than going to Ghana and for giving me a lot of down time that has left me thinking and wrestling with those thoughts. But this morning I was blessed to wake up with a fresh perspective on what one of the real gifts of Christmas is and it has given me peace. 

I have been thinking about Mary, and how scared and lonely she must have felt as she gave birth to her son in an old barn in a far away town with no family around. The only person she had by her side was Joseph who had every reason to leave her after finding out she was pregnant, but he didn't. In each country I have been to over the past 7 months, I have learned to embrace quiet time alone, but that quiet time has taught me even more to love the people who stay with me as Joseph did with Mary. The ones who drink coffee with me in the morning in India before going to work, those who go on runs with me in the hot afternoons, the ones who stay up late watching movies with me in Thailand, or go to the market with me just because why not. The ones who study with me in a Dominican cafe or FaceTime me just because I was on their mind. These are the people who have been my Joseph. On social media, you see the smiles and the laughs but amongst these, there have been many hard days and sometimes the only ones around on those days were complete strangers who hugged me as I sobbed my eyes out and that is special. 

So yes, I miss the twinkling lights, the cinnamon rolls, and the traditions, but I am not missing Christmas. Jesus has blessed me with so many wonderful people who have loved me and still do love me well through the ups and the downs, and that's what makes Christmas special. The ones who you spend it with. I guarantee this time next year if I ask you what you got for Christmas this year, you will not remember. But if I ask what your favorite memory from this Christmas was, I bet it will sound a little something like "My favorite memory was doing (x activity) with (your people)." So this Christmas, whether you're at home or abroad, I hope you will take a second to recognize who your people are and then give them an extra hug or two. Laugh hard with them. Dance silly with them. And make memories that will last longer than any gift you could ever receive. 

Merry Christmas from my home to yours ❤️🎄🇩🇴

Margeaux