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Chaplain’s Corner: The Gift of Presence

By Sarah Sexton | Publish Date December 22, 2025
In the hustle of the Christmas season, our calendars often become crowded with to-do lists. It is easy to lose sight of the quiet miracle at the center of it all. This month at Kirkwood, we have been blessed by an abundance of togetherness. From the carols echoing in our lobby to the laughter shared over meals, we are reminded that our community is a vibrant reflection of God’s love.

There is something about Christmas that makes me nostalgic. Perhaps it’s my age, as the number of Christmases I remember is ever-growing. Watching the looks on the faces of my sons and now my grandchildren on Christmas mornings always brings me back to memories of my own childhood.

I often reflect on the Christmas of 1981, my first as a newlywed with Sally. We had recently moved to Tuscaloosa for my work as a chaplain and decided to take the train to Virginia to spend the holiday with Sally’s family. My mother, understanding that Sally’s family didn’t get to see us as often, was very supportive of our decision to spend the holiday with them.

While the train ride time was almost the same as the drive time by car, we were excited to board and rest on the overnight trip. We hopped on the train at noon in Tuscaloosa with the first stop in Birmingham. As the train pulled into the Birmingham station, I looked out the window and was startled to see my mom and dad standing on the platform. They rushed over, and as I opened the window to our car, my mom handed me a picnic basket. “Something for Christmas morning,” she said. In the basket was her famous cranberry bread—baked from fresh cranberries, each one cut in half by hand, a labor of love that always left her fingertips pink for days. That train trip with my bride, capped by my mother’s loving act of presence and her homemade cranberry bread, remains one of my most cherished pieces of Christmas nostalgia.

The true value of that gift was not its contents, but the love and presence woven into the act of giving.

In the Gospel of Matthew, we are reminded of the name given to Jesus: Immanuel, which means “God with us.”

This is the ultimate promise of Christmas. It isn’t just a story about a long-ago birth; it is a present reality. God is with us in our joys, in our quiet moments of reflection, and in the companionship we share with one another. When we gather in the Chapel to sing, or when a neighbor stops by to check on a friend, we are experiencing a piece of that “God with us” promise, just as my mother’s presence brought comfort to me on that train platform.

My prayer for you this Christmas is that among the music and the festivities, you find moments of true peace. May you feel the warmth of Christ’s presence and the strength of the bonds we share here at Kirkwood.

Thank you for another year of faith, friendship, and generosity. You are a blessing to this ministry and to one another.

Peace.

Merry Christmas,

Cary
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The Residents

Our residents come from different backgrounds and bring their unique qualities, talents, and life experiences to complete the Kirkwood community. Here are just a few reflections from some individuals who call Kirkwood their home.

My time at Kirkwood was spectacular; they taught me how to walk again. The staff was outstanding, and the care was beyond reproach. When I arrived, I had a long way to go. I was very sick. The first night, they had to lift me as I could not move by myself. When I left, they were chasing me down the hallway. They taught me how to perform the activities of daily living again. It was the best care I could have prayed for, and on top of that, the food was spectacular.

Eli Gold Past Resident

I fell in love with the cottage and the view from my back porch. I am excited to have a yard for Ginger, my poodle, to play in and my own garage, all within an established retirement community!

Charlotte Hamilton Current Resident

My husband and I looked at a number of places when deciding to move to a retirement community. For the most part, we found communities that said, ‘We’re going to take care of you.’ But Kirkwood was different. It wasn’t just about taking care of us. It was also about having fun, having friends, and living life to the fullest. The attitude at Kirkwood was positive and the atmosphere was comforting. We simply couldn’t resist. Without a doubt, the location was ideal. The Cahaba Room that overlooks the river, the mountains, the trails – there were just so many things about life. The community was lively. It was alive.

Alice Brooks Current Resident

We realized we were approaching an age where we might need more assistance than what just downsizing could provide. Knowing we have my sons nearby and the levels of care should we need it is comforting, and the beautiful hillside, river, and the woods makes it that much more appealing. We don’t know of any other community that has the woods, the various levels of care, and so many different amenities.

Phyllis and John Guschke Current Residents

We were moving my parents down from the Cleveland area to be near us. I looked at almost every retirement place in the Birmingham area. The second I turned into Kirkwood’s drive and drove up the hill, I knew that I’d found the perfect place for my parents to live in Alabama. In the six years that my parents have been at Kirkwood, I have always felt nothing but love and helpfulness from every staff member. Everyone is always helpful with a pleasant attitude. You can truly see and feel the family atmosphere. I’m happy that my parents can call Kirkwood their home.

Brenda Sheehan Kirkwood family member

When we learned that Cedar Ridge was being developed, that seemed to fit our needs very well. It is the ideal place for the next phase of our retirement.

Carol and Arthur Stephens Current Residents

One thing that we feel is very important here at Kirkwood by the River is the relationship that we have between the staff and the residents. They are dedicated to making our life here as safe and secure and pleasurable as possible. That goes a long way.

Fred Rogers Current Resident

The community's cottage living surrounded by a wooded, natural environment with access to future healthcare services is what attracted us to Kirkwood!

Rick and Jane Ricketts Current Residents