EACH year, since childhood, round about November-December, I anticipate with a quiet feeling of expectancy my first encounter with the true Spirit of Christmas.
It manifests itself at the most unexpected moment – a child gazing in awe at a Christmas tree decorated with shiny baubles, a mother’s look of love as she gazes at her baby, a child singing a Christmas carol in a nativity scene – the list is endless.
But when you experience it, life takes on a joyous new meaning.
This year it happened to me when I walked into a ward at the Empangeni Garden Clinic on Sunday 10 November and looked at a tiny, perfect little being – my third great grandson Tommy Lee.
Such perfection personified by the miracle of birth, a joyous new beginning.
Doting grandparents jostling against each other, admiringly pointing out the tiny, tiny hands and feet, beautiful mum Colette smiling at the perfect gift she had given us, proud dad Lee, as though he was an old hand at parenting, skilfully passing baby around to be loved and held by his siblings.
There was a viable presence of love and joy. How our priorities change from one event to the other!
Suddenly a burp after a feed is met with a great smile of achievement by the older female relations, tales are recounted of when `I had my baby’, and close family bonds are re-united overnight.
What a wondrous world this little man is inheriting. Cell phones, computers and other electronic gadgets will be the norm.
Space will be conquered by modes of transport of which we can only dream, saving the planet with its ever decreasing animal kingdom, curbing climatic changes and other survival techniques will be the norm for him in facing future challenges.
But he will also learn of things past, becoming acquainted with examples of how his uncle Lawrence’s great achievements served as an inspiration relating to true human values.
There are of course a few essentials which will be instilled in him from the word go – support for the Sharks, Boks and Proteas.
Grandparents, and especially a tough old great gran, will always be available at any given moment should parents become a bit irksome.
When he gathers to watch sport with the other male Anthony clan totalling nine in all, he will set an example in curbing the language even if the ref is slanted toward the All Blacks.
And yet, as is so patent when a baby is born, the amazing abundance of love which has no borders is always prevalent and ensures the survival of man.
The family unit and the blessing of friends are still and will always be the steadfast foundation which will shape his future.
The ongoing responsibility of caring for each other is the eternal solution.
Welcome Tommy Lee – we love you.
