"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6 NLT
As I grow older, I yearn for
the Christmases of my childhood.
Being the first grandchild in the family for the first
four years of my life meant a great deal of spoiling-by parents and
grandparents. Though I don't remember those years, pictures relay the joy and
giving that took place. Prior to my paternal grandmother's retirement, she
bought presents with abandonment and worked to make Christmas a special day for
everyone-especially the grandchildren. Presents waist high lay under and around
the tree waiting for eager little hands to open them.
Christmas at my maternal grandparent's house was
practical. They were more into the fellowship-telling stories, hunting, cooking,
and eating-than the giving of presents. One or two gifts was all I could expect.
When my giving grandmother retired and could no longer
afford to buy mounds of presents, Mom took over the tradition and continued it
until she retired. Now my wife tries her best to keep the abundant giving alive.
But things have changed.
My early Christmases were about togetherness. The
togetherness lasted for hours-even days. They weren't pop-in visits from
children and grandchildren. We hung around, talked, laughed, hunted, and watched
ball games together. Never did I hear, "We can be there at ___, but we have to
leave by _____."
In the midst of my childhood Christmases, we always
remembered the reason we were celebrating: to commemorate the birth of Jesus
Christ. He overshadowed the presents rather than the other way around.
Blessings were said at my childhood Christmas meals.
As at Thanksgiving, we remembered God was responsible for all we had and were
enjoying.
My childhood Christmases were also times of joy-and
not just over presents. We were glad to see each other, to celebrate Christ's
birth, to eat a meal together, and to open presents. Just to enjoy one another's
company.
Divorces and remarriages have now changed the
structure of our immediate and extended family, multiplying in-laws and
grandparents and dividing our time into tiny increments that temper the joy of
being together. Though some of the things from my early Christmases are missing,
I still enjoy the Christmas season.
Don't let the changing seasons of your life steal the
real meaning of Christmas. Remember the birth of the Savior, and celebrate it
with family and friends.
Martin Wiles
Hodges,
South Carolina, USA
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