THE MEMORIES OF CHRISTMAS PAST
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| Each leaf represents a memory, experience, insight or friendship |
The holidays are like a magnifying glass. They make the good things in
your life seem even better, but they can also make the difficult things in your
life seem even harder. Be thankful for your blessings and don't let
your worries rob you of joy and peace this Christmas. God is with you and He is
bigger than anything that's stressing you out!
One memory that was my most favorite was a
group of us going Christmas Caroling at night, freezing on the cold snowy winter nights; with our voices singing the favorite Christmas songs. People leaving
there warm living rooms to stand out on their porches to listen, then offering us
a hot chocolate, a wave and a Merry Christmas. No humbug then!
Some memories that I cherished, I chose to
make these traditions for my own family. My most cherished were of Couse
centered on the Christmas holidays. In speaking to my daughter about some of
her fondest memories, she remembers the decorations on the Christmas tree. When
the children were younger we mostly decorated our trees with the theme our
children would enjoy. For example, elves sleigh riding on candy canes, little
stuffed bears with red ribbons around there necks. She vividly remembers the tree sitting in
front of the window with these huge lights in all glowing colors. They would
all sit on the couch just in awe because it was not an everyday occurrence to
have a decorated tree in one’s house, especially with big huge lights. One
special event that was created especially for the family was a Christmas parade
the day after Thanksgiving to officially start the beginning of the Christmas
season. After the parade we all bundled up to visit Santa Village. It was a
wonderful winter land, a magical place. The cold weather was a part of the
experience, cold to the point of seeing your breath while you went from one
display to another. Every year the
village grew even larger and larger. When my children became older with families of
their own and living out of our town, they would travel for miles with their young
families to make the trek through Santa Village. The next generation of
children running in delight at what they found, breathless yelling at us to
come and see, just as mine had done years before. We no longer live in that
community, but the fond memories still linger.
Also, a cherished memory is one where we
would drive up the canyon to take a sleigh ride with hay and big jingle bells
attached to the sleigh. Thinking in our
minds “Oh what fun it is to ride a sleighing ride to night”. The elk had come down from the higher ground
to feed because of the harsh winters. A ranch named “Hardware Ranch” had
sponsored the event. You could count on it being cold, warmer coats, hats and
gloves were almost required. It never
fails when I see a picture of a hay ride; my mind goes back to that delightful
ride with family and friends.
Memories that are also most cherished are
involved with Children and school plays. In the grade schools, the classes
would demonstrate their singing and acting abilities. It was a delight to watch
these children in their sweet innocence sing the “12 Days of Christmas”, acting
out the motions. The little angels gliding out on the stage with silver halos
pinned to the top of their heads. The Naivety being displayed, wise men and
shepherds dressed in bathrobes and scarfs, proclaiming the birth of the Baby
Jesus. How proud and pleased these children were, how proud and pleased the
parents and teachers were. These are
sacred moments imprinted in our minds and hearts. Good memories are the glue that binds us together! Lets have lots and lots of glue this Christmas season..MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
We have
lived the Christmas past, what will the Christmas Present be; can we begin to
reclaim Christmas and our traditions again? With the desire, we can begin in our hearts
and home, with the promise of Joy and peace.
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| I BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS |
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