So This Is Christmas
So last week because Christmas is coming fast I started to think about Christmas's past. Who knows why we remember certain things but don't remember others? I am sure I have had more than three good or sort of good Christmas memories. But when I started to think about my Christmas memories, three things stood out.
I remember the farmhouse in Jackson, Mn and I can still picture the living room and the exact place we put the Christmas tree each year. People don't seem to use tinsel anymore but back them we did. I will confess that hanging tinsel was my least favorite thing to do. I don't think I was a pro at any part of Christmas tree decorating but tinsel was my achilles heel. After throwing a few globs of tinsel on the tree I was usually removed from that part of decorating.
Here then is my first thought about Christmas. You don't have to do it all. Just do the fun parts. For me getting kicked off tinsel duty was the fun part. I don't believe I carry any shame at all for failing that part of Christmas. Indeed, part of the Christmas message is we are loved for who we are and not what we can do. We are all the same in many ways but we are also unique in many ways. Be who you are and do what you are good at and love to do. Ok, enough preaching, on to memory number two.
Growing up in Jackson we attended Salem Lutheran Church. We always went to the Christmas Eve service. After the service the kids were always given a sack of goodies. I think there were nuts in the bag and some other things. One thing I know for sure, there was always an orange in the bag. I know I was never crazy about the orange but I always knew there would be one. After the service we would go home and open Christmas presents. Here is my thought about this memory.
I don't remember what songs we sang, well maybe "Silent Night" or what the pastor said each year. But I remember I was there. I don't know why but that just kind of gives me some stability. Growing up is hard and it's really good to have some things you can depend on. Going to church and coming home to open presents made me feel like I belonged. Another part of the Christmas message is that Jesus came so we could belong. Life is not easy and we all face problems and difficulties but knowing that you are not alone and you belong to a family makes all the difference. So I mentioned opening presents on Christmas Eve. Somewhere along the way I got switched over to opening presents on Christmas Day. But it was a Christmas Eve close to 50 years ago that I will never forget.
It was a normal Christmas Eve. Church first then home to open presents. One of my presents though was not under the tree. It had to be brought up from the basement when the time was right. The "Oh wait, you have one more," kind of thing. Cindy, which I named her later was inside a cardboard box. I am sure she was as surprised as I was. She was an Australian Shepherd. She had one brown eye and one blue eye and she had come to make a boy's Christmas complete. I don't remember how long I had her or any times when we ran around and played on the farm. What I remember is I wanted a dog and there she was. My dog. Not our dog. Not just a farm dog but my dog.
Cindy reminds me of one of the best things about Christmas. Christmas represents hope. Because of what Jesus did, I can have hope that my prayers, hopes and dreams are possible. Maybe it will take a while but if I believe, I can receive. I love that about Christmas. Maybe you have some hopes and dreams that you have given up on. Maybe you are hoping for a better job or a better relationship with family or maybe a mate or maybe healing from some disease. Whatever the need, Christmas tells us that there is hope. So be encouraged. Listen to Christmas songs, watch movies, go to parties and whatever else you want. But remember Christmas means you are loved, you belong and you always, always, always have hope. Just a thought.
Next week: A funny bus story that gave me and possibly you, too, something to think about.
Come back next week for "Enough Already."
It was a normal Christmas Eve. Church first then home to open presents. One of my presents though was not under the tree. It had to be brought up from the basement when the time was right. The "Oh wait, you have one more," kind of thing. Cindy, which I named her later was inside a cardboard box. I am sure she was as surprised as I was. She was an Australian Shepherd. She had one brown eye and one blue eye and she had come to make a boy's Christmas complete. I don't remember how long I had her or any times when we ran around and played on the farm. What I remember is I wanted a dog and there she was. My dog. Not our dog. Not just a farm dog but my dog.
Cindy reminds me of one of the best things about Christmas. Christmas represents hope. Because of what Jesus did, I can have hope that my prayers, hopes and dreams are possible. Maybe it will take a while but if I believe, I can receive. I love that about Christmas. Maybe you have some hopes and dreams that you have given up on. Maybe you are hoping for a better job or a better relationship with family or maybe a mate or maybe healing from some disease. Whatever the need, Christmas tells us that there is hope. So be encouraged. Listen to Christmas songs, watch movies, go to parties and whatever else you want. But remember Christmas means you are loved, you belong and you always, always, always have hope. Just a thought.
Next week: A funny bus story that gave me and possibly you, too, something to think about.
Come back next week for "Enough Already."
Comments
Post a Comment