A Christmas Story

Our BB-8 stocking spent much of its existence buried in a box of Christmas decorations, a gift for me but one that as soon as I saw it I knew I wanted it to be my child's stocking. Only no child of mine made it earthside for many years. When one finally did, I even called him BB-8 because he came after 7 other losses and fertility treatments.

I share this not to say, "Look how God's timing aligned with my love of Star Wars," because that's terrible theology people! He could just as easily been our BB-53, since we had 53 months of devastating negative pregnancy tests and losses before he stuck. But I choose to make meaning out of this Star Wars character as a way to share with myself and my family our story of resilience.

I want our BB-8 to grow up knowing the reality that grief and trauma shape us AND so can joy. I want him to grow up knowing the power of science, and that science isn't a magic wand that makes life easy. I want him to grow up knowing how loved and wanted he was and is. And I want him to grow up geeky like his parents (especially his mommy).

I want him to grow up knowing both grief and grace are part of being human. I wrote last year that grief and grace aren't just a part of our Christmas story, but also a part of the Gospel story itself, when, in the midst of corruption, poverty, fear, and violence, grace came to us, bringing hope and topsy-turvy love. That might be a lot of weight to put on a Star Wars Christmas stocking! But this is one of the ways we will tell his story and our story.