Every year at Christmas time we all receive and send those wonderful Christmas letters. It is great fun to catch up on all that has happened in friends' lives over the past year and, yet, as we read them we have often wondered what it would be like if people actually wrote what was happening in their lives. Maybe their Christmas letter would go something like this.
Sorry this letter is late, but it just doesn't seem much like Christmas to me this year. Ed and I have been having problems in our marriage for years now and this year he has been away more than he has been home. I think there might be another woman in his life. I've tried to talk with him about it, but he just gets angry and walks out. I am so afraid he won't come back. I am alone and afraid and don't know who to talk to. We've been married twenty years now and I never thought we would reach this point. My heart is broken and all the joy of the holidays just makes it worse.
Jimmy went out for track this year, but couldn't qualify for the team. His grades have been slipping and he's running with a bad crowd. Since his dad has been away, he just doesn't seem to care anymore. We had hoped he would go to college, but his grades are so bad now, that probably won't be happening. I suspect he's using some kind of drugs. He spends a lot of time locked in his room and stays out late at night. He has terrible mood swings and we just don't seem to be able to talk anymore. He was always such a good kid and we had such hopes for him. Maybe that's all over now. I hope not.
Jenny got pregnant this year and had an abortion before we found out about it. Her boyfriend left her when he found out she was pregnant and she hasn't been the same since. She cries a lot and I just don't know what to do to make her feel better. Ed says that it's my fault and maybe it is. I don't think I've been a very good mother. I wish I knew what to do for her. Sometimes I'm afraid she might try to take her own life.
Jeffrey is the joy of my life. He's still so young and doesn't seem to have been affected by all that has happened this past year. I've centered all my love and hopes on him now and sure hope he doesn't make any mistakes. He's the perfect child and I know he will never disappoint me.
I've been thinking of getting a job but I don't really have any skills and I'm not sure how to get them. If Ed leaves, I don't know how I'll make ends meet. I can't leave Jeffrey, though, so I don't know how I can go to school or train for anything. We can't really afford any presents this year, but I don't think it will matter since maybe the family won't be together anyway.
I've told a couple of my friends at church how bad things are and they said they would pray for us. I wish I knew someone who could help. Do you know of anyone who ministers to marriages and families? I keep thinking there must be somebody here in my city. I haven't heard of anyone, though.
I read your Christmas letter and when I see how happy your family is, I can't imagine you would ever be going through anything like we are. Well, have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. And, if you do hear of anyone who can make a difference for families like ours, would you please let me know.
Maybe it's time to read between the lines. Do the families in our communities know we're here for them?
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
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