A Blessed Christmas

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What a blessing! To wake up in the morning to a clear blue and cloudless sky with the sunshine pouring in through every crack and window, with the temperature at a chilly 58°F. To sip a cup of hot chocolate and marshmallows with my little ones, to enjoy a breakfast of hot fresh pancakes with applesauce and butter and fresh fruits. All of this without the steady patter of rain on the roof, without wondering about the mountain of laundry, without sloshing through ankle-deep mud on our front yard. Simply gazing at the bright sunshine filled us with new courage for the remaining days of the year.
  We proceeded on a short nature hike to celebrate the arrival of “Christmas” weather, chatting about a myriad of subjects. We chased a gray squirrel up a tree and observed a bird sailing gracefully above us. A furry caterpillar attracted the attention of our youngest son who was immediately warned about touching it. Some hairy caterpillars in Belize are known to deliver a painful “burn”. The cold air stung our nostrils, a steamy vapor issued from our mouths whenever we spoke, but the sun was out in all its splendor and that was all that mattered. We reflected on other Christmases and counted our blessings. One or two bills were pending, some goals had not been attained, friends were leaving the country for greener pastures, major changes had occurred in our lives, yet our little family was all together safe and sound with a fifth little one due to arrive next year sometime. And we were content, for we realized once again that to have your family around you is one of the greatest blessings of all.
  Later that same week I joined a group of Mennonites as they paraded through a “spanish” village, singing Christmas carols and handing out styrofoam plates of home-baked cookies. We sloshed through wet grass, waded in ankle deep mud, hopped over puddles, slipped and slid on the limestone driveways ruining skirts, shoes and socks in the process. Some of us came straight from work and had no time to change our shoes yet the look on the recipients faces and their gratitude was reward enough for our muddy footwear. There were pastries and coffee afterward.



  In spite of the rainy weather returning, I wholeheartedly believe it is a blessed Christmas for us and sincerely hope the same for you.

















                                         A. Mendoza

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