Meaningful Gifts

When I was younger, we too usually received PJ’s or slippers as the one present we could open on Christmas Eve. I cracked up as I was reading another blog that was posted earlier with the same tradition. My parents, my brother and my self typically spent Christmas Eve at church with our friends. Sometimes there were parties other times it was just a quiet evening.

The most exciting part Christmas morning, for my brother and I was finding our stockings laid carefully on the end of our beds. There were little gifts tucked neatly inside and each was individually wrapped. We found a small toy or two, an orange or Clementine, some type of chocolate, and my favorite the Book of Life Saver candies (which I usually had finished at least 2 rolls before mom and dad were up).

As the rest of the house began to stir, we prompted mom to finish her tea and for both her and Dad to come sit down by the tree. Dad would get out his bible and read the Christmas story… my brother and I silently prayed that dad would read the account from Mathew chapter1: verses18 - 25 and certainly not from Luke chapters 1 – 2:40 (as it took dreadfully long). My happiest memories were the Christmas mornings in which we listened intently to Dad read the account of our Savior’s humble birth, prayed for His blessing on our family time and spent our time savoring each gift and taking turns opening 1 gift at a time. Watching each others’ expressions and excitement made the day last (and the memories too).

We also received a new Christmas ornament each year; all those ornaments I still treasure as I try to remember when each was given. Mom wrote the year on most of them. Now that I am a mom, we continue some of the traditions that I remember fondly. We try to purchase unique ornaments each year for both of my children. We also read an abridged version of the Christmas Story (our children are ages 4 and 6 now and have the attention span of a gnat on caffeine). We even place the stockings on the end of our children’s bed after they have fallen asleep.

One thing I’d like to change is the rush and hectic-ness that seems to have come from no-where, but I’m sure they were slowly sneaking in upon us, growing more and more each year. As the kids get older and have more say in what they would like for Christmas, I’d like to refocus them on what it means to give and give freely. I’d like to be able to pause and remember that God’s plans for us aren’t always as we envision them; that His timing is so much more critical than the timing we set upon Him. It is a breath of fresh air as I view this Christmas differently; its not a drastic change, but a much simpler celebration. Less rush and less stress. I wish you all a very Merry and simple Christmas as we celebrate the humble birth of our Lord and Savior.

Patti Q.