The Linchpin who Made Christmas

The Linchpin who Made Christmas

Written by Jessica Gize

What a funny 8 letter word; Linchpin. It is defined as someone vital to a group or organization. I call them the matriarchs of a family, and this is easily seen at holiday time. And you may just be one.

Think of your childhood holidays. Who truly brought everyone together? Who figured out how to work around everyone’s conflict and make the holidays the most pleasant possible. And memorable. Planned and planned for everyone to have the best possible time and get together? Your mom, an aunt, or your grandmother, perhaps? And as soon as that woman is no longer the linchpin, what happened to your family? What happened to the glue? I have seen the linchpin change hands, and I have seen it lay on the ground as others wonder why a group is no longer dynamic.

Either another woman takes the spot, or the whole dynamic falls apart. No different than taking out the linchpin from the axle. Suddenly the tire slips off, and you aren’t going anywhere.

I am not saying men can’t be Linchpins. In fact, that might be who you thought of. But I feel the substantial possibility it was a female in your life, or perhaps it is now YOU. But there is one thing I ask of all of you this year. If you are a linchpin, ask for help? We thank you and see you and never want you to stop, so let us help keep you strong.

And if by chance we have another holiday where being close to the ones we care about so deeply isn’t so easy, stop and send your linchpin a thank you. I bet it was never easy and rarely verbally appreciated. But oh, when that little piece of metal that holds everything together falls off, suddenly we are all left on our own devices as the wheel rolls to the ground. But at that moment, the linchpin probably planned a zoom holiday meal.

Cheers, linchpins, for making our holidays bright.