I’ve often wondered why bad things happen to us and to those we love, such as the loss of a loved one or the natural disasters that take away our family members, friends, homes and destroy complete cities, leaving us empty and alone. Often such circumstances have a way of turning themselves around and we are shown the deeper meaning behind these life situations.

My friends Jeanne and Kelly had been very busy getting their homes ready for Christmas and especially for a special Christmas party. Being that most of the people had not been to their homes, they wanted their places to look really nice, festive and warm... this was a celebration or a “homecoming” of their family of the heart. They went to Eastern Market for wreaths, garlands, poinsettias and holly and made many trips to the store for extra goodies, candles, ribbons and bows. Jeanne decided that because last year she had not had a Christmas tree at her apartment, she wanted a small one this year. Everywhere they went, Jeanne kept looking for the “perfect, little tree.” She found a really great gold metal one standing about 2-1/2 feet tall with gold stars. So she bought that one, but she really wanted a lighted, little green tree. No luck. Several days before the Christmas party, Jeanne began to feel melancholy and was missing her sister, Teri, who had passed away 1-1/2 years ago. She felt such a void in her heart thinking about the Christmases that they had spent together and all the family gatherings they shared – the fun, the laughter, the dancing and the love.

One day, as Jeanne was cleaning her house for the party, she came across Teri’s gratitude journal. Teri wrote in it every day up until and including the day she died. The first three things in her journal were always (1) faith in God, (2) her family and (3) her animals. (She had a golden retriever and a cat.) Jeanne, once again, realized how much she missed her dear sister and felt her presence very deeply, knowing that Teri was now happy, joyful and free from pain. So Jeanne tucked away Teri’s journal and continued to organize her home.

The next day Jeanne went to put some things in a storage space above a closet, so she asked her friend, John, if he would put some boxes overhead for her. While he was up on the ladder putting the stuff away, she asked him to tell her what else was up there. He said, “Well, it looks like there’s a Christmas tree in a box.” She couldn’t believe it! She had forgotten that she was given her sister’s tree (a beautiful, green, micro-fiber tree with a gold base and gold ribbons and ornaments). It was exactly like the one she had in her mind. It reminded Jeanne of Teri, for they had spent many hours together admiring the tree and watching the gentle glow of the lights as it turned. A special bonus was that Jeanne also found one of Teri’s favorite bracelets hanging from the tree, making the whole experience that much more special. Jeanne’s sister made her presence known to her... letting her know that she was only a thought away, and that all things come to us in their own time. Jeanne was very grateful to be reminded of that and to feel the love which knows no boundaries.

Jeanne and Kelly’s homes were so festive the night of the party. It was the best party imaginable. I looked at the little green tree in Jeanne’s apartment and commented to her about it. She beamed as she knew Teri was right there at the party with all of us, brightly shining her light.

Sometimes it seems like we are given more challenges than we can possibly handle.

A song passionately sung by Elvis Presley expressed it so well...

You gave me a mountain

It’s been one hill after another and I’ve climbed them Lord, one by one

but this time you gave me a mountain...

A mountain I may never climb...

It isn’t a hill any longer,

you gave me a mountain this time

Another example of this, is Cajun Pam, my friend from Louisiana whose life as well as the lives of others was dramatically affected by Hurricane Katrina. Many of you have been asking about Cajun Pam who had evacuated to Conyers Georgia. Pam called me the other night to tell me that she was now back home in Louisiana. I was very surprised to hear that. She thought that her home had been destroyed since the location was so close to the tip of Louisiana. She was concerned about all her possessions and all the poetry she’d written. The damage was minimal and her writings were intact. She is now in the process of fixing up her home. The stained glass lighthouse that I had bought her still shines brightly in her window. She is also fixing up her beauty shop, Neon Salon. It had some roof and ceiling damage. Patrons have begun coming back and as Pam apologizes for the fallen ceiling they tell her that they have all been through the hard times together and they wanted to return to Neon no matter what it looked like. Pam even went out and bought a jukebox for the salon. She was real happy as she told me about the patrons enjoying the jukebox.

Pam has a positive attitude as she realizes how much others have lost. Her heart hurts for them. Everyone hugs everyone they see. It somehow makes it a little better just to hug someone you haven’t seen since before the hurricane. Pam said, “We all want what we had, a city, a neighborhood, neighbors, pets, anything that was the way we were. There’s a real spirit of New Orleans and I know deep down inside we will get through this, rise above the rubble and confusion and be the ‘Big Easy’ once again.”

Isn’t that what we usually do? We rise above the adversities in life. We may not be able to take it a year, a month or a week but we can climb those mountains a moment at a time. And hidden within those mountains is a treasure of renewed appreciation for each other and for life itself.

It helped Jeanne get through the pain and the loss of her sister when she found Teri’s little Christmas tree and her bracelet.

Cajun Pam continues coping with her losses one day at a time, one moment at a time.

With this New Year come many new beginnings and endings. Our strengths grow out of our weaknesses. It’s easier when we learn to embrace whatever comes our way and say...

“I can handle it.”

Happy New Year!

Gerri Magee is director of advertising and public relations and assistant to the editor of phenomeNEWS. She continues to share her thoughts “On The Path” in this column. You can write her at gerri@phenomenews.com.