Gifts from St. Nicholas

Sa sa' lin ch'ol... My heart is happy...

Here it is, St. Nicholas Day, 2009, and I am overwhelmed with joy at the gifts St. Nicholas brought for me, this year! And I haven't even put my tree up, yet. Allow me to explain with a little background...

St. Nicholas, bishop of Constantinople, has been a special saint to me (and to our family) for years. Because of his charitable deeds, love for children, and prayers that saved sailors, he is the patron saint of children and travelers. Hence, he is the patron saint of our family with regard to our work with Kids and Cultures. On the trip abroad that we took for Kids and Cultures, we were privileged to be in the city where he was bishop (only about 1700 years too late to meet him), and thought of him while we were there. We have an icon of him that we purchased, there, on our prayer table at home, to remind us of how he lived, and to remind us to ask him to pray for us.

This year has not been an easy one for our family. Because of lack of leadership on Kids And Cultures' board, in early June, they decided to close the non-profit down at the end of August. This decision was made in the beginning of June. Right before our busiest season. We were not to tell anyone except close friends and supporters. We headed into our insanely busy week of summer camp, followed by intense weeks of performing in libraries, where those that we spoke to were enthusiastic about the experiences Kids and Cultures was providing for them and their children. We smiled and nodded, knowing all the while that this organization that we've thrown our time and energy into, was headed for the recycle bin, unless God intervened. We prayed. We asked St. Nicholas to intercede for us, as well. A friend from church went to the church and lit a candle at the St. Nicholas icon to ask him to pray for us, not even knowing the special relationship we have with St. Nicholas... A gift.

God heard, and provided from our close friends and supporters (and some of their friends/acquaintances) a strong board, with a very capable leader, who structured things well and pulled the new board together. The organization was saved, as, before the old board could complete their paperwork (which could only be filed after the last event that Kids and Cultures had scheduled, the end of August), we could present to them a new leader and others to assist them in leading the organization... A gift.

Things seemed to be on the upswing. But then, on October 1, we got the news that our board chair was resigning, effective immediately. The next day, the vice chair resigned. Both of them had other work demanding their attention, and (I guess) were feeling overwhelmed with everything. We were so discouraged and wondered what would happen. We asked St. Nicholas to intercede for us, again.

However, on October 1, we also received a blessing from God in the form of a little boy. The next day, we got to meet him and hold him. (We knew he was coming, and we'd found out a few weeks before he came, that he would become very special to us: Greg and Shelley Pituch, our friends from church, had asked us to be Godparents to their son, Isaac.) He was born right on the day that we got the disheartening news of the loss of our board chair. Joy in the midst of sorrow. A gift.

Ever since we began attending St. John Chrysostom Antiochian Orthodox Church, in York, PA, I have been delighted with the visit that "St. Nicholas" pays to the church, every year. As a mother of small children (now "growing up" children), I have always been delighted that the first gift my children touch each Christmas season is one that they pick and wrap to give anonymously to a child that needs it. That's what Christmas should be about, anyway, isn't it?!? Christ came to give Himself to children that need him... A Gift beyond measure.

Several years ago, our middle (also our oldest :) !) Godson surprised us by assuming the role of "St. Nicholas," who visits our parish on St. Nicholas Sunday, each year. It was a delight for me, and I am grateful to God for the gift of being able to watch Ray fill that position each of the last several years. It is sweet to watch him with the children, and know that he is helping my children (and the rest) think of others, as St. Nicholas would have done. A gift.

Today, again, it was sweet to see him come, gently, lovingly, down the aisle, a little awkwardly (however, fittingly) blessing those around him. (I don't think the real St. Nicholas was big on having the spotlight on himself, either.) The children offered their gifts as well as a telling of what Christian deed they did, this year. I have overheard my children thinking aloud of what they'll tell him, different times, so I know this exercise has made them more cognizant of what they do, throughout the year... A gift.

And that sweet little boy, the gift that God gave to us on October 1, the day when we received the sudden news about our new board chair and needed some hope, was baptized into the Holy Orthodox faith, today. Out of all the days when he could have been baptized, it was today. St. Nicholas day. A gift.

It was a very happy day, from driving to church with the world clothed in white (first snow of the season, yesterday), in honor of Isaac's baptism, to the circled gathering of family and friends in the narthex, to the sweet smiles Isaac was so free with, to the baptismal service itself, to Isaac keeping his eyes on Jesus (the icon of Christ on the ceiling) during both the morning and afternoon services, to the delicious time of fellowship together afterwards. Peace and joy wrapped themselves around the afternoon. Another gift.

I don't have my tree up, yet this year. I don't know when I'll get it put up. I scarcely feel a need to. I've been given so many gifts already...

Sa sa' lin ch'ol. My heart is happy.

Through the prayers of our holy father, St. Nicholas, O Lord Jesus Christ our God, have mercy on us, and save us. Amen.

Bantiox?!?

For those of you who do not speak Q'eqchi, or have not even heard of it, allow me to explain. Q'eqchi is the Mayan Indian dialect spoken in many parts of Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and even, a little, in Honduras. It is very useful in those regions. Not so much, in the USA, where I live (with the possible exception of being able to make a comment that no one around you can understand!).

It is also the second/third language I learned to speak (simultaneously, with Spanish), when I was two and moved to Guatemala for 10 years. Though now a dormant language in my brain, it comes back to me in fits and spurts. I have been known to walk about the house speaking to myself in Q'eqchi, just to practice and to relish the sounds of the words. When I am plugged into the Q'eqchi culture again, as has happened a few times in the nearly 30 years since I've been back in the USA, the language comes back to me within hours...

I do not remember my first Q'eqchi words, but I am fairly sure that "bantiox" was among them. It is in a song that I sang again and again, probably nearly every Sunday, in church. It was uttered to and by the Q'eqchi people visiting our home. It is an important word, useful, and necessary to be used.

Bantiox is a Q'eqchi word that means "thank you."

I've named my blog "Bantiox," in gratitude to God for the life I have had, am still having, and will have. I have much to be grateful for. There will be times when this blog will not seem grateful, I am sure. I have named my blog "Bantiox" to remind me, during those times... Because I will ALWAYS have much to be thankful for. I have named my blog "Bantiox" because I am grateful to my family and friends for being who they are and the many ways they bless my life. I have them to be thankful for.

How can I but thank God for all that He has done for me?

Bantiox...