I clicked on the news and read that thousands of people in Michigan and Maine are without power, and have been for days. I had no idea. Christmas in a cold house, especially with children would be a hardship. No lights, no warmth, no toast with jam. I saw pictures of the heroic workers who are spending long hours outside breaking through the ice that is incapacitating power lines. I salute the hard labor of people who show up to help others in such a tangible way. 

This season I had the privilege of being part of a collective effort to bring holiday cheer to a family facing a tough situation. It was exciting to read each morning about what gifts were left on the door step in the early morning as we joined together to create a 12 Days of Christmas for them. 

I suppose I have an unspoken wish that everyone will always be fine. But that leaves no gaps for other people to fill in. Maybe it is like the jigsaw puzzle that was under our tree this week. The pieces all have holes and bumps that slide together snuggly. If the pieces had flat edges, it would be tricky to fit the puzzle and they would not stay connected. 

Each of us takes a turn being the giver and the receiver. It is not because we are flawed, or lazy. It is inherent in the Design. Marriage works best when we are part of the dyad... I need you, you need me. When the dynamic is unbalanced, it can feel unstable. 

I wish I could send an extension cord out to the folks in Detroit who are still using candles, like my neighbor did for us a few years back when hers was restored before ours. I still remember the gesture, and thermometer notwithstanding, it warms me.