Bless the ones who wish Christmas could last for a month and bless the ones who just want it to be over
Blessings on the ones who cook the most succulent turkey and the best roast potatoes and blessings on the ones who dry out the pork and serve cold vegetables because they’re a little distracted
Bless the ones who sing carols cheerfully out of tune in church and bless the ones who turn off the radio in the car while looking for a car park
Rain blessings on the ones who search for hours to find the perfect present for their loved ones and bless the ones who buy everything in one hit on Christmas Eve
Bless those who love plastic blow-up Santas and bless those who colour coordinate the wreath, the table decor and the gift-wrapped presents
Bless both the ones who have had a successful year and the ones who feel shame about their lack of Christmas-table news
Blessings for those who can’t wait for the children to come and blessings for those who want them to go
Bless the ones who are in hospital and bless the ones who care for them and the ones who visit them
Bless the ones who have five places where they’re expected and bless the ones who don’t have a single invitation
Bless the ones who would like some appreciation from their families and the ones who don’t give it to them
Blessings on those who want to lose 20 kilos in a week before they sit next to their slim cousin and bless all those slim cousins who are worried about their jobs
Bless the ones who don’t celebrate Christmas and bless them when they celebrate Christmas their way
Bless the families who are happy to be together and bless the families who aren’t
Bless the ones who are missing and bless the ones who miss them
Blessings on those who love traditions and blessings on those who don’t
Bless the women who are pregnant and the women who aren’t pregnant but want to be
Bless the little ones who faces light up like candles and bless them when they have a meltdown over missing out on the last bon-bon
Bless the year that has been and the one that is to come – for everyone.
I wrote this poem on my phone while sitting on a tram watching all the many, many people get off and on, and wondering about both our similarities and differences.
Thank you for reading my blog this year, and for giving me book recommendations and lovely literary conversations.
I’ll take a blog break for a few weeks, and will post again in January. Merry Christmas!