Here it is Christmas Eve and I am thinking of days gone by. When I was a child this time of year held such mystery. It was exciting and kinda scary at the same time. I mean, there was this strange man that gave us toys if we were good enough to deserve them. If not , we were to get nothing. Wow! I tried to be good. Not all year but at least the week before. Did that count ? I was never sure. It was enough to give a kid an ulcer! Also….The week before was the time to “play with the old toys, including our baby dolls”. You see, Christmas Eve we were to put ALL of our toys from the year before under the tree for Santa to take back to the North Pole so the Elves could “fix them up ” to give the next year to poor kids that would get nothing otherwize. Does that make sence to you? As a kid it made sence but now it does not. I finally grabbed hold of the idea that with five kids in the house, it was my Mom’s way of “toy control”. Altho it was a good idea, I never could ask my own children to do that with their beloved toys. Oh, I should have, for my youngest son never parts with anything. Then again, neither do I these days. I am an official pack rat and he got that from me I think. Looking around at things I don’t really need I should put them under the tree this night. Saved!!! I did not put up a tree this year. No room! Ha Ha Ha…I think I fooled the old fella in the red suit. I have a chimney but it goes straight into my furnace. I am NOT leaving my door unlocked AND I will still be up at mid night, I am sure. I get to keep my stuff for another year!
One of the most exciting things about Christmas as a small child was the turning on of the Christmas lights. Ever watch “Home Coming”…The Waltons. That was us. Country bumkins with last years lights from the year before and the year before that! SO on and so forth…. If one big bulb was out they all were out. When my Dad or my brother would plug them in after being put on the tree he would tell us to “Cross your fingers now…if one bulb is blown they will not work!” How exciting it was when they worked. If they did not work then came the terrible job of taking an extra bulb (not knowing if it too was blown) and going bulb to bulb on the sting. It took hours it seemed. I do not remember Dad ever getting it within the first five tries.
After the tree was decorated, we would sing carols. Away in the Manger was my favorite one. The thought of a little baby in a barn was fasinating to me. Dad could not sing so he would crack walnuts for me and my little sister. We were not stong enough to crack them. I was about 4 in these memories tonight and she was about 3. Mom would tell us the story of the birth of Jesus. She was so beautiful. Her auburn hair curly from the pin curls all day long would now be brushed out and it was down past her shoulders and she was so pretty to me. Her gentle voice was music to my ears as she told us about Him. She knew how to paint pictures with words. I loved her then , I love her now. She is 80 years old and she is still beautiful to me. She still sings and plays her guitar. I have a song she wrote, that she asked me to put a melody to. I think I will be doing that soon.
Anyway, wrapping this story up, Christmas is not as it once was. I do not decorate much and rarly put a tree up. I have no grand children to make things special for and my kids are grown. Therefore the traditional Christmas has changed for me. One thing that has never changed and never will is my Lord Jesus. He did grow up and is not a baby in a barn any more. He is not on a cross anymore. He has gone to prepare a place for us and He will come again. And take us unto Himself to live with Him forever and ever..Amen
Merry Christmas!!!!!!!! Everyone!!!!!!
JudyLynn