Comparing Christmases

During these five months stateside, I think I had been trying to avoid a direct confrontation with the aspects of northamerican culture which stand in starkest contrast to Honduran culture.   Call it culture shock or just plain homesickness:  I tried to keep an emotional foot in both worlds.   Christmas brought all of that to a head, and whatever battle I thought I was waging was decidedly lost on my part.   What a tidal wave of all that is good and not-so-good in a USA Christmas!   I felt overwhelmed with the perceived cultural expectations, and also overwhelmed by the constant, generous overtures of love.   It is no wonder that the rest of the world gapes at our country's fascination with celebration, giftgiving, spending, eating, and even loving.   The best-hope scenario for an average Honduran (for Christmas) is a special meal (tamales, torrejas, Coke) and maybe a new set of clothes.   At midnight on Christmas Eve, a cloud of smoke can probably be seen by satellite all over Latin America as firecrackers explode non-stop for about 30 minutes.    Once the noise subsides, many people sit down to enjoy their Christmas meal.   Christmas morning is "celebrated" by sleeping late and visiting with friends and family.   Gifts can be opened at any time; they are not the focus.    My girls and I loved the Christmas Eve worship and being with our Christian family here.  We also received many lovely things to take home with us, for which we are thankful.   We all missed our community in Honduras, especially the children in San Buenaventura.   They have been such a huge part of our Christmas celebration recent years!   But we have loved growing closer to our stateside God-given family.

In short, there is no "better way" to celebrate Christmas; each culture has its own expression, and in the end, what floats to the surface is the joy of being together on Jesus' birthday.   My family is thankful to have had the experience of celebrating Christmas with our stateside friends and family, and we will be thankful next year to be in Honduras.   Wherever we are, Jesus is.  

Peace, love and joy to all as we enter 2011!