In other places in the world people were celebrating Christmas. In that prison for girls no one was celebrating.
The school had emptied out.
Those who had families were gone.
Left were the orphans that had no home.
The staff dwindled down to a skeleton and we girls were quiet, mourning our losses.
No one was happy to be there that Christmas, including the staff.
We did endless hours of skating at the school's arena.
Around and around the rink.
There were no Christmas carols. No one was singing that Christmas.
No sparkling lights on a tree that year.
It was a waiting time. A time to get through.
An orphan's Christmas
We were all sad that Christmas and avoided each other. We could not look into eyes
that mirrored our own pain.
It was a time to endure as Christmas without family was empathizing what we tried to forget.
We were alone.
Outside the school, the world was covered in snow. We wanted to don a coat and boots and walk in that pristine beauty.
It was not allowed.
We were children and were eager to play.
Make angels in the snow and throw snowballs at each other.
We could get lost in the moment and forget our pain.
We could play our pretending game.
There were no open doors to walk through. We wanted to burst through the doors and run.
The sun was causing the snow to come alive with pin pricks of sparkling crystals of beauty
That called out to me.
I wanted to leave my footprints in that wonder showing I was alive.
I was real
I wanted to leave a message in the snow.
In those snowy winter days I longed for my freedom.
Oh, how the world called to me that Christmas.
Behind those locked doors.
I waited.
##
THE WAITING SONG
Slowly, slowly, the donkey trod
Step by step
A young girl sat
A young man walking by her side
The watching world
Held its breath
Waiting for her babies' first cry
Waiting for the Son of God
The road to Bethlehem
Was rough and long
Did Mary in her heart
Sing her song?
"Oh how my soul praises the Lord
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior
For He took notice of this lowly servant girl
And from now on all generations will call me blessed
For the Mighty One is Holy
And he has done great things for me."
(Luke 1:46-49-NLT)
Mary and Joseph on that night
Were led by the Spirit
To bring us Light
##
A NEW CHRISTMAS SONG
Remembering that Christmas long ago
When I was still an orphan girl
I could not see
I did not know
My world was covered in snow
The future that I could not see
That Jesus Christ would rescue me
Thank you, Lord Jesus
For setting me free
The Son of God
Has delivered me
Now I can leave angels in the snow
Jesus Christ
Has made me whole
Making footprints as I go
Singing my own praise song
When the journey is hard and long
As I walk step by step
Dear Lord, may I never forget
My Lord Jesus has rescued me
With His very own life he set me free
"Oh how my soul praises my Lord
How my spirit rejoices in God my Savior"
*sketch by A. Lagerquist