December 23, 2005

Readers share favorite Christmas memories

Friend exemplifies the ‘spirit of Christmas’

By Barb Roettger
Special to The Criterion

Our holidays were steeped in traditions from Poland brought to America by my grandma and grandpa. Mom made sure that we kept the family traditions going each year.

Then mom died. A year later, dad remarried. My two younger siblings moved several states away to live with dad. Since his new wife still had her two youngest children at home, there was no room to stay there and I had no choice but to remain in Indianapolis for Christmas.

The holidays are tough when you have no family in town. Everyone around you is talking about getting together with their families while you know that you will be alone. I was in that predicament for a few years.

I was a member of an adult singles group at the time, and one member showed me what it truly means to be a Christian. Every Christmas Day, he would drive to my apartment and spend a few hours with me. He said people shouldn’t be alone on the holidays, and he was right.

One year, he came by a day earlier with two bags of groceries. Due to a recent move, he knew my finances were tight. He had another friend with him so they didn’t stay long. As he left, he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He showed me what the “spirit of Christmas” is truly all about with his friendship.

Last year, I sent him a thank you note—long overdue—for the kindness that he showed me during the Christmas season. It is really hard without your family during the holidays, but my friend made my Christmas a little easier for me when I was all alone.

There is a Polish custom that involves leaving a chair vacant at the table on Christmas Eve for a guest who might come to dinner. My friend was mine.

(Barb Roettger is a member of St. Pius X Parish in Indianapolis.) †

 

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