I have discovered that what makes my Christmas is little "snippets" of things that happen here and there through the season. When I say "makes my Christmas", I mean, the things that create an impression, a memory, that bring me joy and happiness in this time of our Savior's birth.
One year, when our country was in the middle of Operation Desert Storm a young man from our congregation who was dearly loved came back from overseas. We had all been earnestly praying for him and when he returned safe and sound at Christmastime, we gave him the pulpit to share his thoughts and experiences from the war. Having him stand before us whole and healthy was a gift. That made my Christmas that year.
Another year Bethany and I went to see "A Christmas Carol" at the Byham Theatre in Pgh. They read from the Gospel during the play! It was unexpected. Seeing anything on stage can be magical, and that night, well, it was a memory.
Sometimes it is the Christmas Eve service at church, when we all form a circle at the end, and with our lighted candles sing Silent Night. Seeing faces I love in the glow of candlelight brings a lump to the throat and a tear to the eye.
When the kids were small we had a dear widow in our church who was just so in love with our 5 yr old Josh. (what's not to love?) After Christmas Eve service, we went to her house for cookies and hot cocoa. It meant so much to her; but it meant just as much to us. It made her Christmas AND mine.
This year I know there will be little snippets of time that impress love on my heart and burn a memory in my mind. So far there has been one: Jeremy made me a CD of Christmas music for my listening enjoyment. He gave it to me as I was driving him down to Pitt after a dental appointment. It didn't cost him anything but his time....but he picked out artists that he knew I liked so that it was custom-made just for me. ("Baby It's Cold Outside" by James Taylor, for one). That little act of love meant the world to me and listening to it has plunged me head-first into the Christmas spirit once again.
2 comments:
wow! that was sweet of jer! i want him to make me one!
what about all the fun times "christmassing" with becky, linda, joelin, and dodee???
Who is this old broad that like the 5 yr old version of me? I've become a lot less likeable.
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