This time of year stores have already put out their Christmas decorations and the shelves are filling up with gift ideas and holiday food.  I love Christmas. I celebrate Christmas with my whole heart, every year.

One of the teenagers I tutor starting listening to Christmas music in September. “I just LOVE Christmas!” she exclaimed.  It rubbed off on me.  The week before Hallowe’en, I was already playing holiday tunes on my phone and laptop.

Normally, I would not do this. I usually wait until after Remembrance Day is over before I commence with any Christmas activities.  I do this out of respect for those who have served, in all the wars, and especially for those who never made it home.  This year, however, I tuned in to the online holiday channels early.

So what, if anything, has changed? Not my somber respect for those who have served. My son served two tours in Afghanistan with the infantry.  Every day that he was gone, I thought about him and prayed for him and his platoon.  I set my phone alarm for the beginning of the day in Afghanistan in order to say a prayer for him. He told me how much the soldiers appreciated treats from home, as well as how the children there loved candy and Canadian swag.  Hence, I mailed a box of goodies off to him and the platoon every month.

The first time he was on tour, my workplace decided to contribute to Christmas gifts for the soldiers. That December, my son received seven large packages of Christmas goodies, baking, gifts and hygiene items to distribute to everyone around him.  The other soldiers joked that he must have many girlfriends but, in fact, the parcels all came from family, friends and my coworkers.  In addition to treats, I sent along some Christmas decorations, including garland and a string of Norwegian flags to hang on the tree, as per our family tradition.

There was nothing but desert where he was, no pine or fir trees to cut down for Christmas.  Therefore, my son collected a large bramble of weeds from outside the camp, and proceeded to decorate it with the garland and the flags.  The platoon hung a few (live!) grenades on it as ornaments, as well.   They dug into their dried turkey dinner made from rations and sang Christmas carols, under heavy rocket fire.

Christmas in Afghanistan.

The following January, I met a woman whose son was deployed when my son was deployed.  While on foot patrol, just two months before Christmas, he stepped on an IED, and was the first one to lose his life on that tour.

My son also lost friends. One of his best comrades from training was in a group of four soldiers who died when their vehicle exploded on top of a roadside bomb the day before New Year’s Eve. His death devastated my son.

Christmas in Afghanistan.

Greater love has no one than this: that someone lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13.

Christ set the ultimate example of sacrifice when He gave His life for us on the cross.  He is the reason we celebrate Christmas, and we look forward to His return to earth, when wars will all be over.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Revelation 21:4.

On November 11th, I will turn off the Christmas music, and remember those who served and gave the ultimate sacrifice.  I will weep for my friend who lost her son, and for my son who lost his friend. I will weep for the others who never made it home, and thank God that my son is still with us.  I will pray for peace and an end to wars and conflict everywhere.  Maybe I will pay a visit to my new friends, refugees from Afghanistan, who are safe and free, living among us as neighbours.  I so love to hear the laughter of their children.

I will remember.

Then I will commence with Christmas, because I have hope. I have faith that a better time is coming for this world because the One whose birth we celebrate will put an end to death and its sting.

What has not changed is that I will not give in to fear, doom, and hopelessness, but I will remember.  And I will turn my thoughts to Christ.  He is our Hope and the very reason we celebrate.  Our redemption came through His sacrifice.

For me, it is not a conflict. Both Christmas and Remembrance Day give us pause to remember the sacrifice.

When I eventually put up my decorations and trim the tree, I will think of Christmas in Afghanistan.

Photo courtesy of Jonathan Gillies