Our Special Christmas Tradition
We have started a very special Christmas tradition in our family this year (2003) to celebrate Sacha's returning to us last Christmas.
As you know from reading Sacha's web site, we were told the EEG and tests indicated he was brain dead, and it was just a matter of time before his heart and breathing stopped too. Despite what the doctors predicted, a miracle happened Christmas night because Sacha woke up from his brain dead state. We were so happy to find him awake when we went to visit at 10:00 p.m. Christmas night. It was as if we had been given the best Christmas gift ever - our son.
To commemorate God giving us back our son on Christmas night, we have purchased a beautiful angel candleholder to light a candle in at 10:00 p.m. every Christmas. The lighting of the candle represents the return of life to our baby. The candle representing Sacha, and the flame representing life.
We found the perfect candleholder for this event. It is a beautiful pewter candleholder, of the arch angel Michael, holding up a candle towards the heavens.
At the time of his birth, we had given Sacha the middle name of Michael, after this same angel (our oldest son, Sebastien, also has an arch angel's name - Gabriel). We had named him as such, hoping at the time that he would be watched over by Michael, his "angel".
In preparing for our ceremony we came across a beautiful poem which, I believe, was written by another parent of a similarly disabled child. The poem really touched us, as we could really relate to its message. Although we have tried to find out, we are still unsure who the actual author is. We took the liberty of adapting a few things in it to make it more specific to Sacha's story, but the majority of the poem remains the same.
At 10:00 p.m., this past Christmas night, prior to lighting the candle we read the following poem:
An
Angel
Is Born
author
unknown
(adapted
by Jason & Jackie for Sacha)
On
the
night that you were born
The
angels came to pray
When
something started going wrong
One
of them did say
"We
must go get the Father
And
tell Him about this.
Things
are not going well.
Something
is amiss."
When
the Lord came and saw
All
the angels crying,
He
looked down from the sky above
And
saw a child was dying.
An
angel
said, "Let's bring him Home."
The
Lord said, "He will stay,
Because
he has much to do
Before
he comes our way."
"Besides,"
the Lord said and sighed,
"The
parents want a son."
The
angel whispered to the Lord,
"But
this is not the one."
"He's
not the one they longed for,
This
much I know is true.
But
this child will teach them much.
In
time they'll see it too."
"But
Father," said the angel now,
"I
don't see how he can.
"This
child will never walk or talk.
I do
not understand."
"Watch
and you shall see,"
To
the angel he did say
"Though
this child will speak no words
He
will have much to say."
"Their
parent hearts will hear his voice
And
the wisdom he will share
Will
teach them things about themselves
That
even they were not aware."
"Though
there are many peaks and valleys
On
their journey just ahead
They
will not despair
They'll
draw their strength from him instead.
Because
of all they'll learn from him
They'll
help to bridge the distance
Between
the world of special needs
And
try to make a difference."
The
angel thought on this awhile
Then
said, "This child means much.
Like
the pebble in the pond,
Many
lives this child will touch."
"The
world needs special children,
These
parents needs this son."
The
angel smiled and said,
"You
are right, he is the one."
We then lit the candle, and cuddled our little boy. It was really a nice and special way to remember all the things about Sacha that we are happy for. The fact he is here a year beyond what any of the doctors predicted is a miracle. Although there have been times we have felt much sadness this past year, we are thrilled to have our little Sacha here with us. It's only when one comes so close to losing something so special, that you truly appreciate it being here, in spite of things not being exactly as we would want them.
We have been truly blessed by the miracles we have seen, and the lessons Sacha has taught us. Hopefully the years that follow will be filled with more of the happiness, and less of the sadness, as we continue on this journey. We look forward to lighting this same candle again next Christmas and reflecting on all of the blessings Sacha will bring us this coming year.
***
Our
First Christmas Candle Lighting ***
2003
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*** Christmas
Candle Lighting ***
We
have, each subsequent year,
continued our Christmas night
tradition of celebrating Sacha's return
to
us.
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| 2004 | 2005 |
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| 2006 | 2007 |
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