Christmas 2008--Muted Joy

Year of Living Greatly

It’s that time of year again to write a note and let you know what the DeMelos have been up to for the last year. We try to keep up with everyone throughout the year. Even with email, Facebook, MySpace, and blogs, it’s amazing how we can still lose contact with folks.

This year started off very nicely. Daniel’s son, Pedro, was here visiting from Brazil. We went to Disney-Epcot and Universal Studios. The bad thing about the trip is that I have never experienced such cold weather in Florida! We were accused of having brought the cold temps with us. Despite the freezing air, (or maybe even because of it), we created memories with Pedro that will last us a lifetime. We hope the “little dude” (as I call him) will be coming to live with us in January. We will be so excited. There will be an adjustment period for all of us. We will be going from no having no kids to having a teenager. And Pedro will be learning English and will be in a much larger school than he is currently attending.

I guess the other big story of the year is that we absolutely love Mount Paran Church of God! It is an excellent place for seeker-sensitive recovery. There’s nothing watered down there! Daniel is playing guitar almost every Sunday morning and playing piano on Wednesday nights, when our pastor plays lead guitar.

I am still working at In Touch in the Foundation (doing research and taking care of the donor database) and Daniel is still working at Orr Protection Systems. I had a brief thought of trying to become a middle school or high school English or ESOL teacher. But then I realized I’ve been out of college a long time.


My Own Dark Night

Another big story for me this past year started when I went to the eye doctor for my annual visit. The eye doctor told me I had narrow-angle glaucoma and sent me to a specialist. Two months and four Lasik-type procedures later, the glaucoma is gone. I was the youngest person in the waiting room every time I went for a treatment. It was a harrowing experience for me. It made me very appreciative of my sight. Am I a proponent for annual checkups? You betcha!

Muted Joy and Crayons

I usually listen to Elvis as I’m putting up the Christmas decorations. There’s something about Blue Christmas that just gets the season going for me. However, this year, I chose Jars of Clay’s Christmas Songs album as my soundtrack. It was ironic … and yet beautiful. The songs are more melancholy, especially Christmastime is Here. Yet they are joyous in celebrating what Christ has done for us. This is exactly how I feel. As I was trimming the tree and thinking about all that is going on around me, I was convinced that “muted joy” is this year’s description of Christmas. I have so many friends and family members who have lost their jobs or can’t find work. And there are issues, and health problems, and so much other stuff. And then there was the election, which I refuse to discuss.

So, as you’re listening to Wonderful Christmastime and Peace is Here, think about what Jesus’ coming means to each of us—then pause to remember those who are hurting and have lost so much this year. Hope and peace is found only in Christ.

“Muted joy” is still joy in my book. I guess it’s all about how we look at things.

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)

This past Sunday, Dr. Cooper was teaching about changing our attitude if we can’t change our circumstances. He said something that will stick with me forever: Attitude is the crayon with which we color our world.

Think about when you color something (yes, I still love to color, don’t you?!). You can color inside the lines or opt for all over the place. You can make your scene monochromatic or use various colors. You can use dull tones or brilliant colors. You can even create your own picture instead of using a coloring book. The choices are yours and they are endless. So it is in our little corner of the world. No matter what is going on around us, we can color what’s going on inside our mind and how we let circumstances affect us. “Peace is here”—we just have to be still and find it.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Live above the news and color your world in 2009!

Melissa & Danny DeMelo