Why is it this time of year I can reminisce with the best of them? I can put off digging through the Christmas decorations that were stored in the same old attic trove as years before. It seems only a few weeks ago we stored them there. I can plan where the artificial tree, sans the odor of a freshly cut one, will stand. I can envision the mantle laden down with familiar angel dolls, lights and candles. I can even see Old Saint Nick's stone cold statue setting on the fireplace hearth along with his sleigh full of Christmas cards that come straggling in a few at a time even before the turkey from Thanksgiving is digested. But, where is my Christmas spirit? Is it buried in the old box of ornaments, a few of which adorned the cedar tree in the corner of our living room when I was small? Or is it hidden somewhere in the recesses of my mind along with the memories of past Christmases both happy and sad?
The memories of those
first Christmases are often the ones we cherish the most. One in
particular when I was six comes to mind. We didn't have a lot of money
for frivolous things so I know my daddy must have scrimped and saved a
long time to buy this gift. But, there it was......the most beautiful
red and white tricycle I could ever imagine! The living room became my
race track even before my other small package was opened.
The Christmas when I was a gangly teenager wishing and needing a new winter coat, I dreamed of one that would instantly turn me into Betty Haynes from the movie White Christmas, which had just been released. I could just see me now dancing and singing in that old Vermont Inn trying to impress the likes of Bing Crosby's character, Bob Wallace. When the wrapped box was opened, there it was in all of it's splendor; the gray furry coat of my dreams!
Memories of Christmas as a newlywed seem so fresh in my mind. I can see the small cedar tree with a few hand-me-down ornaments and strings of popcorn, as it sat on a little table in the corner of our rented apartment. A salary of $50.00 a week didn't stretch too far even in those days. But, my husband of barely three months skimped and saved enough to buy me a beautiful white jewelry box with bright red velvet lining. I cherish it to this day.
I hope this brings about Christmas memories for you. I will have more to share later.
Aren't you glad that God, in creating man, chose to give us the capability of remembering things; especially all of those Christmases we had as children.
"Don’t let the excitement of being young cause you to forget about your Creator. Honor him in your youth before the evil years come—when you’ll no longer enjoy living." Ecclesiastes 12:1 (TLB)
The Christmas when I was a gangly teenager wishing and needing a new winter coat, I dreamed of one that would instantly turn me into Betty Haynes from the movie White Christmas, which had just been released. I could just see me now dancing and singing in that old Vermont Inn trying to impress the likes of Bing Crosby's character, Bob Wallace. When the wrapped box was opened, there it was in all of it's splendor; the gray furry coat of my dreams!
Memories of Christmas as a newlywed seem so fresh in my mind. I can see the small cedar tree with a few hand-me-down ornaments and strings of popcorn, as it sat on a little table in the corner of our rented apartment. A salary of $50.00 a week didn't stretch too far even in those days. But, my husband of barely three months skimped and saved enough to buy me a beautiful white jewelry box with bright red velvet lining. I cherish it to this day.
I hope this brings about Christmas memories for you. I will have more to share later.
Aren't you glad that God, in creating man, chose to give us the capability of remembering things; especially all of those Christmases we had as children.
"Don’t let the excitement of being young cause you to forget about your Creator. Honor him in your youth before the evil years come—when you’ll no longer enjoy living." Ecclesiastes 12:1 (TLB)
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