Merry Christmas from the Whalens

This Christmas season has been very different for us than in years past, but good nonetheless. We finished our second level of Spanish school last week and both passed our final exams with flying colors (praise the Lord!). This has been a blessed week for us. My sweet, creative husband built a rack for us to hang up our bags, which has made our little concrete house feel more like a home. We have two strands of Christmas lights up and George Winston’s “December” playing in the background. And instead of playing in the snow or drinking hot cocoa, we’ve been napping in our hammock and eating star-fruit.

The thing that stands out the most to me about this week is the hospitality of the people here. Keep in mind that the folks in this area are always hospitable, but this is the first week we’ve really had the time to drink it in. Relationships are held at a much greater esteem than tasks, and no one calls before coming over. The unspoken rule is that if the door is open, you are welcome to come, and you will almost always be handed something to drink and maybe a meal. Initially, this was hard to get used to. It is very un-American. But… I have really grown to love it.

Last night I was making caramel popcorn in the oven and getting ready to watch a Christmas movie. Travis was off in Rio Grande buying bus tickets for the trip we’re taking tonight. As I was pulling the caramel popcorn out of the oven, a neighbor and her daughter walked up to the porch. They brought a bag of fresh star-fruit for us from their tree. My first thought was, sad to say, I hope they don’t stay too long ‘cause I want to watch my Christmas movie. Thankfully, my second thought was, Wait a second. This is what it’s all about. So we sat down on our porch, ate caramel popcorn together, and had a wonderful conversation. I was blessed and convicted by this.

My hope is to give more freely and to serve more joyfully than I have in the past. Without skipping a beat, the people here will lay aside whatever they are doing just to have a conversation with me. And isn’t that how Jesus was as He walked on this earth? He stopped to talk with people, to look into their eyes, to know them, to touch them, to call them by name. Are there people in your life with whom you’re too busy to spend time? Do you know your neighbors? It’s amazing how just inviting someone over for a meal or a cup of coffee can pave the way for friendship and, ultimately, for a more meaningful life.

For me, it can be easy to think of things like hospitality, serving, and friendship during this time of year. The true challenge comes after the holidays when, perhaps, the need to be more loving and giving isn’t so obvious.  When I’m not reading a second-page story of a homeless man freezing to death under a bridge, I forget the plight of humanity, my neighbor, but the need is still there. Everyone was created for a relationship with Christ and with other people. This is a need all year-round. When I worked at a nursing home, there were many elderly people who only received a visit from their family at Christmas time. Well, what about January and March and August? Who will visit them then?

We pray that our friends and family back home and across the world will have a blessed and joyful Christmas. We know that some of you have recently experienced loss or heartache. Please know that Jesus is the true Healer and Comforter. He gives us strength as we keep our eyes steadfast on Him. From our family to yours have a Merry Christmas!