Relationship

Christmas time: a season of memories

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Everything has its time, and everything that is wanted under heaven has its time:

Christmas is one of the happiest times of our lives. It brings us together as families, where we create special loving traditions and so many loving memories. We all have special memories of Christmas past. I would like to share with you some of my memories.

Christmas has changed for me over the years. I am now a grandmother and enjoy special Christmases with my adult children and their families. I watch them create lasting memories for their little ones. I remember those happy moments when my precious children were still at home with us and the Christmases we spent together. How I miss those special moments.

My song “Christmas Wish” says what is in my heart.

If I could have one Christmas wish, I’d go back in time,

When our children were young and at home with us.

We decorated the house with lights, put up the Christmas tree,

Baking cookies; singing Christmas carols in the neighborhood.

Make gifts for the ones we love; wrap them up nicely

Laugh, kiss and hug a lot, we would have a lot of fun.

I read the story of Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem

In the manger in which we would carefully lay the Savior.

Christmas Eve we would hug you tight, our hearts full of love

Give thanks for our family, our special gift from God.

We tucked them safely into bed, we stuffed their stockings,

Take a look at our sleeping babies; wingless angels

Eyes sparkled on Christmas morning when daddy turned on the lights,

Santa left so many gifts; the cookies and milk were gone.

Opening presents was the best of all; shredded packages,

Finding your special wish, jumping up and down.

I baked the turkey while they played with the toys they had,

We would feast together on food and love, what a heavenly day.

Memories of those special days many years ago

Seems like yesterday; life was filled with joy.

If I could have one Christmas wish, I’d go back in time,

When our children were young and at home with us.

Christmas not only brings back memories of my precious children, but also memories of my dear mother, who passed away on October 18, 2002. She was 86 years old and life had not been easy, but she did everything she could to make our lives happy. . My mother’s most favorite memories were the wonderful Christmases she created for my brother, sister, and me. She always made Christmas beautiful and exciting, despite our alcoholic father wreaking havoc on our lives, every time she got drunk, especially on Christmas. hour.

My mother seemed on a mission to make things right for us every Christmas. Every year she opened a checking account at Zellers, to buy us gifts. My father did not give him money. We were poor because of her addiction. She bought us necessary things like socks and underwear, but always something special. I remember the red leather loose-leaf folder she gave me when she was 10 years old. We kids didn’t know it then, but for the rest of the year Mom paid her checking account with cash she could get out of her food money. Each new season began anew with another Christmas charge account.

Mom didn’t let us see the tree before Christmas morning, an old family tradition. My kids now have their tree up at least two weeks before Christmas. But yet, when I was young, the first time I saw the tree it was glorious.

One Christmas Eve, when my dad was drunk, he took a Christmas tree from a lot, which he had closed up for the night, and carried it home, dragging it behind him. We lived in Canada and the tree was frozen. When he brought it to our house to thaw it; my mother realized why no one had bought it. The tree had only a few branches. My mother sent him to find another tree, which was equally bare, so they tied the two together.

Mom would stay up all night carefully decorating the tree and wrapping our presents. She always had the ability to do things perfectly. She made a special effort to choose the most beautiful paper she could afford and each gift had a shiny ribbon and bow. She dedicated herself to bringing excitement to our eyes on Christmas morning when she turned on the lights on our beautiful tree, loaded with so many gifts from Santa. Her reward came when she saw the enjoyment we had while opening each treasure.

Often our father was too hungover to get up with us to open presents and then head out for the day to be with his friends, but our mother made sure Christmas was special. We always went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house for a turkey feast with all our relatives.

This Christmas I am especially grateful for my loving mother who sacrificed so much for her family and created Christmas memories and traditions, which I see being passed down to my grandchildren. I will miss her very much.

In all of our lives we have special memories of Christmas and I have one more that I will never forget.

I call it “The Pineapple Miracle.” Just before Christmas several years ago, my five-year-old grandson, Jesse, and I were in Julian California, where my husband was finishing up some work. As we wondered under the spectacular pine trees, we saw pine cones lying on the ground. They were big and magnificent. My grandson loved them and wanted to take some home with him so we picked them up.

I was wondering what we could create with them. When I picked one up and turned it over, I realized it looked like a perfect Christmas tree, only brown. I found my Christmas snow and sprayed it white. Right before our eyes, the pineapple turned into a tree, covered with a blanket of snow. So we decided to decorate it. I found multicolored sequins and when we touched them to the snow they stuck. The pinecones became jewel-covered Christmas trees.

Jesse and I had so much fun making trees that we encouraged my mother, his great grandmother, to get involved and we spent an afternoon making beautiful trees. What a wonderful memory I have of my mother and grandson working together creating multicolored treasures. I took a photo with my heart. We had so many trees and we were wondering what to do with all of them. We gave some to family members and recruited them to sing Christmas carols in the neighborhood. I took another photo with my heart, of little Jesse singing ‘Away in a Manger’ and then proudly handing his prized tree over to a smiling neighbor.

We still had trees to give and I was wondering what to do with them. That year I taught the 16 year old Sunday school class at my church. I was wondering if I could combine my teenage children and the trees into a service project that would bring the spirit of Christmas to these young people. There was a nursing home across from our church. I asked if they would allow me to take my teenage children caroling at their residences and distribute the remaining Christmas trees. The household gave me its approval and thanks. When I presented my idea to my students I was not prepared for their response. Some of them were not enthusiastic about the idea. Actually, I think a lot of them were embarrassed to sing in front of each other. But I assured them that it would be a nice thing to do and I armed each one with a tree, both the boys and the girls. We set off on our mission.

When we entered the first room of the nursing home, my youngsters were a little shy but sang a weak verse of “Silent Night” except for one big boy who was standing in the back of the room and not singing. One of them handed over his tree to the grateful patient and we left.

As we moved from room to room, the teens gradually perked up, seeing the smiles and tears on the faces of those dear souls, except for the boy in the back. Their singing grew louder and more in tune and they couldn’t wait to run to the next room. I will always remember the 95-year-old man, who had been bedridden for several years, accepting his Christmas tree from a group of excited teenagers. I took another photo.

When we distributed the trees, the youngsters were satisfied and happy. They felt the Christmas spirit and did not want to leave. They knew the joy they had brought to the patients.

Finally we made our way to the door. On the way we met a sad little lady sitting in the hallway in her wheelchair. When she saw those loud and giggling teenagers, a smile appeared on her toothless face and she raised her weak arms hoping to give them a hug. My wonderful teenagers lined up and each of them leaned in and gave her a big hug. Another photo!

When we left the building, we found that the teenager, who had stayed in the back of each room and did not want to sing, was missing. I went back to the building to look for it and that’s when I took the most memorable photo, with my heart. There, in the hallway, was the big, muscular boy, on his knees, in the arms of that dear 100-year-old lady. He had his arms strong, but gentle, slapping around her small, frail body. Tears streamed down both their faces. In his lap was the pinecone Christmas tree that he had carried around the house and had been too embarrassed to give up.

That year love came in the form of a pineapple. We all have so much to be thankful for as we create Christmas memories and traditions within our families. How blessed we all are.

This Christmas we have more reasons to look for the good things in life and be grateful for everything that blesses us, despite the events in the world. We must remember that Christmas is a season of giving and gratitude. I wrote a song to cheer us all up and help us know what we can do this Christmas to make a difference in our world.

What can I do to help?

There is so much sadness and so much pain. What can I do to help?

There is so much anger and hate. What can I do to help?

I can appreciate my freedom, in this country that I love.

I can bring comfort to someone. I can do everything I must.

There is so much pain and confusion. What can I do to help?

There is so much pain and worry. What can I do to help?

I can love my brother; I can do an act of kindness.

I can take care of another; I can get on my knees.

There is so much sadness and so much pain. What can I do to help?

Is there so much anger and hate? What can I do to help?

I can fight evil and the suffering it brings

I can always to the will of God, so that peace can come to our world.

I can always do God’s will so that peace can come to our world.

Thank you for allowing me to share my special memories of the happiest season of my life. I pray that we all remember the reason for our Christmas season and do everything.

We can bring peace and happiness to our families and to our world.

WE can enjoy our own traditions and be thankful for this Christmas, a season of Remembering.

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