How can two newlyweds and a stupid holiday ornament tell a story? Well, several of you have asked to be introduced, so please meet the infamous “stupid, ugly holiday pizza guy ornament” mentioned in last weekend’s post: Ornament Placement Disorder Ruined A Holiday Tradition. Here he is – Pontius Pizza, the Christmas Guy. And here is his backstory.
When Allan and I were first married and living in Bakersfield, California (MANY Christmases ago), this ugly thing came with our pizza one night as a marketing promotion. Allan insisted on hanging it on our scrubby little Christmas tree in our apartment. I equally insisted on the opposite, arguing that corporate pizza chain mascots have nothing to do with the meaning of the holiday.
Allan retorted that “Pontius Pizza” was a main character in the Christmas Story. (No, uninformed new husband…. King Herod is part of Christmas. Pontius Pilate is part of EASTER!) That’s when it got ridiculous between two stubborn, immature newly wed kids. It was more important for each of us to be right than to be kind to each other. Ever have a moment like that?
Pontius Pizza, the Christmas Guy
Over the years, “Pontius Pizza, the Christmas Guy” has grown on me. Since that first Christmas together, he has been promoted from the bottom of the ornament box, to the back of the tree, to front and center. Similarly, Allan and I have worked to grow our marriage to front and center as well. Some days that feels easy. Other days that feels… well… like hard work. Because we are two broken humans who often still fall into the trap of being stubborn and immature. Don’t get me wrong – I still like to be “right” (and usually am), but I generally won’t fight to the death anymore in the process.
Someday when I am another widow in a nursing home (MANY Christmases from now), I hope my kids hang Pontius Pizza in my room every December. He makes me smile at how far two newlyweds and a stupid holiday ornament have come. The extra effort is worth it. Even on the hard days.
Adapted from original 12/10/17 Facebook post.
Header image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay.
