What belongs together and what doesn’t? Sometimes things you believe should be kept separate don’t remain that way.

 

You struggle when this happens, and believe, in your heart, . . .

 

 

This Was Never Meant To Be

 

It was a cold, rainy, December morning. I sat in my den, with tears in my eyes. This was never meant to be. It can’t happen this way, I thought. It wasn’t right in the past. But I tolerated it.

 

What am I going to do? How do I deal with it? Who can I talk to? Will anybody listen to me?

 

Nineteen years ago, 2005, I was forty-five years old, when it first happened in my life. I wondered why it had to be that way. But it wasn’t my choice.

 

However, now it is happening again. What did I do to deserve this? I knew we had our differences when I married you. But we kept them separated.

 

When it first occurred in 2005, I was bewildered. But you were in charge and the way we faced the challenge was your decision. You said, “This is the way it was meant to be and we must do it accordingly.”

 

I asked why and you stated, “It’s on the calendar. So it must be right. And I follow what it says.”

 

What had I signed up for when our lives came together? The rain beat furiously upon the roof. It felt as if our house might float away, like Noah’s ark. Maybe this would be a good thing. Then I wouldn’t have to face the inevitable.

 

I had two days. Just two days to decide how to face the impending disaster. I didn’t want to accept it, but . . .

 

My God! The house had Christmas decorations flowing all around the inside. And the outside lights, turned on before dark,  lit up not only our home, but the street, as well. Christmas music made the dancing reindeer display on our front lawn come alive.

 

This was a total catastrophe. For the Hanukkah menorah sat on the kitchen counter, with two unlit candles standing and ready to be lit, but not until sundown on Christmas Day. It was almost completely hidden by its rival, Christmas. I shook my head in dismay. Why should Christmas and Hanukkah be meshed together on the same day? This was never meant to be. They weren’t partners.

 

But they were, in a way, for they were both holidays filled with joy, love, and happiness. And both breathed life into our world and gave us the energy to repaint gray skies blue. I needed to believe in what we had and enjoy the bright lights of Christmas and Hanukkah—after sundown.

 

 

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