In the “Letters to Santa” published this week in our second section, a little girl writes to Santa.
“I would like my auntie to come back to life!” writes Aurora Auger, a Grade 2 student at High Prairie St. Andrew’s School.
I was overcome with a wave of emotion from that sentence. Her wish is not unlike countless others who miss their loved ones dearly, especially at Christmas.
My father died in July 9, 1982. The first Christmas without him was different and weird at the same time. The family gathered at mother’s place for a feast and to open presents. We never spoke about our father, however. It seemed taboo to bring him up. Why? I have no idea. Perhaps we all decided to grieve alone.
There was plenty of excitement to go around, however. The nephews were young boys and all excited for Christmas. Their enthusiasm more than made up for the fact their grandfather was gone.
And the men had plenty of sports to watch on TV. A fine distraction!
Our father loved Christmas! He loved seeing the joy in his children’s faces when they received their presents. I think it gave him a sense of satisfaction knowing he provided.
He also hauled us off to church for the Christmas Eve service. Dad was never the one to preach and was far from religious. He often swore like a sailor! His mother was religious, however. She was active in the church and sang in the choir. I think our father went to church and brought us along for fear of feeling the wrath of his mother! Fear can be a great motivator.
As we age, we will all lose loved ones. Grandparents, aunts and uncles, mothers and fathers, friends and lovers. Each one will hurt. Everyone will grieve in their own way. It is why I was so sad after reading Auger’s letter. This little girl is hurting. She misses her aunt. With all the excitement of Christmas, she is thinking of her aunt.
A MAS*H Christmas episode involved a wounded man arriving at camp Christmas Day. Dr. B.J. Hunnicutt decides to work on him tirelessly despite there being no chance of saving his life. He was a father himself with a little girl back home. He related to the pain this other little girl was going to feel.
“Christmas should not be remembered as the day their daddy died,” he says.
Honnicutt is not successful and the man dies shortly before midnight. Dr. Hawkeye Pierce moves the hands forward on the clock past midnight.
“Look, you made it! Time of death. 12:05!”
“Falsify a record,” noted nurse Margaret Houlihan.
“Christmas should be thought of as a day of birth,” said Father Mulcahy.
Auger and everyone like her can keep the memories alive. Sadly, I have no magic words or advice to make Miss Auger feel better. I wish I did.
But keep in mind, as Pastor Chris Levan wrote long ago, when you lose a loved one, God is right alongside you weeping with you. In fact, He is the first to weep.
May Miss Auger and each of you find the solace this holiday season to cherish the memory of lost loved ones and to remember the good times!
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“Behold, I bring you news of great joy for all people. Today a Saviour has been born to you.” (Luke :10)
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Chris Clegg