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| My handsome husband and me, December 24, 1974 |
那是1974年，我剛懷著我們的第一個孩子，孕吐得厲害，像病了似的；晚飯後，丈夫帶我去散步，無意間來到附近一家天主教堂。
四面彩色玻璃的殿廷、重新點燃起我的聖誕心情。子夜彌撒的時間尚未到，我們冒險走入了空無一人的大堂；一股力量驅使我跪下，為腹中所賜給我的、正在成長的小生命祈禱……
那是我倆的第一個聖誕夜，我與他兩人。
38年之後的今晚，又一次，我與他、兩個人。
因著我的腳傷，今年聖誕夜我們得悶在家裏，見不到父母、孩子、孫子，也參加不了任何服務性的活動。
好在連著幾天的大雨停了！經不起蔚藍天空的呼喚，丈夫預備好了walker, 輪椅、拐杖，本來想帶我出去玩兒，看著我的傷腳還是不行，只好隨意吃個飯，然後兩人決定去喝杯咖啡。
星巴克裏面人不多；我們選擇了角落的沙發，舒適地坐下。想起弟媳剛寄來的聖誕卡、以及她接受了浸禮的好消息，趕緊拿出「聰明」手機，找到她的電郵址，專心當起「低頭族」來。
望一眼身旁那位也抓著新玩具的可愛丈夫。哈！人家早已進入狀況，正在查地圖、設郵箱、下載東西呢！
一面慢慢啜著香濃的咖啡、一面和我的最好朋友他一口我一口、共享一塊美味的南瓜蛋糕……沒過多久，咖啡店竟要打烊了，員工們都等著回去和親愛的家人聖誕團聚呢！
走吧，丈夫說。回到家，是有點孤零。然而，我的心在耶穌基督裏，一片詳和安寧……
走吧，丈夫說。回到家，是有點孤零。然而，我的心在耶穌基督裏，一片詳和安寧……
Seeing the huge stain glass filled church ignited a dormant Christmas spirit in me. Since midnight mass had not started, we ventured into the empty building. Once inside, I felt compelled to kneel and pray for the gift of life growing in my womb.
That was our
first Christmas Eve, my husband, myself and my God.
After 38
years, I find myself once again with the same pleasant company.
Due to my
injured ankle, we had to stay at home this Christmas Eve, not being able to see
our parents, children, grandchildren, and not being able to serve in any activities.
Thankfully the heavy rain stopped this afternoon bringing out crisp blue sky that my
husband could not resist. Wanting to go somewhere, he loaded my walker, wheelchair and crutches into the car. However, because of my ankle pain, we ended up having some simple Chinese food and then went for a cup of coffee.
There were very few
people in Starbucks. We chose a sofa in a quiet corner to enjoy our coffee and work on our new smartphones. I replied to some emails, one of which was from my sister-in-law. I was excited to congratulate her on her recent baptism: a prayer answered.
In the
meantime, my cute husband was also having a great time playing with his new toy by
finding some maps, setting up some email accounts and downloading a LOT of stuff.
The coffee was good but the pumpkin bread was great; sharing a single slice with my best friend, taking turns pinching off bites and savoring each delicious piece. Before we knew it, the coffee shop was closing with all
of its employees eager to join their loved ones on Christmas Eve.
"Let's go," my husband said. So we went back to our home. It was empty. We felt alone without our beloved ones; yet, my heart was perfectly at ease in Jesus Christ.
"Let's go," my husband said. So we went back to our home. It was empty. We felt alone without our beloved ones; yet, my heart was perfectly at ease in Jesus Christ.
By Julia Chou
(Edited by Eric Chou)
