Christmas Kindness

Text from Jason's journal/Facebook post, plus a few pictures added by me

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Our family observed Christmas once again this year from within the walls of Primary Children’s Hospital. Two years ago, Kara and I were keeping a constant Christmas vigil at the bedside of our little Annika, who was clinging to life after suffering a sudden and unexpected cardiac arrest. Isolated in the ICU, we were unaware of the Christmas Day celebrations happening in other parts of the hospital. We had little way of knowing what Annika’s future might hold.

Since that uncertain Christmas in 2022, Annika’s journey has seen both rough waters and bright rays of light. Worsening heart symptoms and additional cardiac arrests have brought us, not exactly full circle, but certainly a full lap around this marathon of a course she is running. This Christmas though, Annika was several days out of ICU, allowing our family to witness the beautiful miracle that the children’s hospital is at Christmastime.

In the past few weeks we have seen dozens of families, businesses, and church groups bring lunches and dinners every day to families of patients. We’ve heard countless volunteers provide live holiday music in the corridors. We’ve watched them play games with patients, bring therapy animals for visits, and distribute crafts and gifts. 

Years ago the family of a former patient who loved music helped create an incredible room in her honor called Sophie’s place, where hospitalized children can go and make their own music. On Christmas Eve, her family was back again, singing songs Sophie had written and joining in caroling with current patients. 

Yesterday we came out to the parking garage to find little gift bags tucked in the door handles of all the cars. This evening I watched as a man stood by the cash register in the cafeteria for hours and paid for meal after meal as families made their way through the line. I spoke with him for a few minutes: 23 years ago, his then 5-year-old daughter had a life-saving open-heart surgery to correct some problems with her aorta, and this was his not-so-small way of saying, “thank you.”

In a few days we will leave the hospital for home, with hearts that have been changed both figuratively and literally, with a new outlook and a new lease on life. 

I write this in humble gratitude and recognition of the selfless sacrifice of time and means that so many have made. And I can’t help but think on those who make the ultimate sacrifice. The New Testament records Jesus as saying, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” In my faith tradition, we believe He has already made that sacrifice, already offered the life-saving gift of forgiveness and eternal love. We get to choose whether or not to accept that gift, and how well we’ll take care of it once received.

And so it is in His name that we celebrate today, Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas!