Christmas Memories and Favorite Things

All of us have memories of Christmas past: a special gift, family celebration, loss, meaningful activity or decoration.  Christmas is a time to remember, to ponder, and to rejoice in the gift of God’s Son.  Celebration of this special Christian holiday takes on many forms, with traditions passed down from generation to generation.  Advent activities help to keep the Christmas story alive through the season; Christmas Eve service focuses on the babe in the manger with carols of “Silent Night, Holy Night” and “Hark the Herald Angels Sing”.

Christmas is also a time to remember loved ones no longer with us and traditions worth passing on.  Traditional decorations are on display in shops, restaurants, parks, churches, on lawns and in homes to welcome and celebrate the season.  Every year when I take out our Christmas decorations, I remember.  I remember who made or gave the decoration, making it especially meaningful.  This year I thought I would share the story behind some of my favorite things.

Mom’s Last Ornament

My mother died in mid-January following one of the sweetest family Christmas I can remember.  We gathered in the beautifully decorated community room at the Hospice facility where Mom was kept comfortable the last six weeks of her life.  I read the Christmas story from Luke Chapter 2, we sang carols together with my sisters and their children and grandchildren.  We all knew it would be Mom’s last Christmas – a holiday she always made special by focusing on others.

Growing up we made my great grandmother’s fudge and crafted gifts, to give to the mailman, the grocer, teachers, principal, coaches, neighbors and friends. Mom took great joy in giving and continued this practice throughout her life.  Another tradition she maintained was giving us a new pair of pajamas and an ornament each year.  On this last year together, Mom gave each of us a beautiful silver heart ornament with our name and “All my love, Mom” engraved – her last Christmas message to those she held most dear.  It is displayed on a decorative hanger in our dining room as a reminder of her love and the many traditions I have carried on.

Children’s Christmas Outfits

Our daughter was born just a few weeks before Christmas in 1986.  I made a romper for our son, in a Christmas plaid to coordinate with a little dress our daughter wore that year.  We took a picture of the two of them in a little red chair, under the tree, wearing those outfits, which have been displayed at Christmas ever since.  This year they hang on the doors to our spare bedrooms and serve as a sweet reminder of days gone by, but not forgotten.  The picture of our children taken in 1986, is in a Christmas frame given by a friend years ago.

 

Wooden Nativity

For nearly 20 years, our family had a Christmas Open House in November that was a boutique/art/craft show in our home and backyard.  Up to forty exhibitors were invited to display their homemade, handcrafted items to more than six hundred attendees over two days.  Both our children were involved in creating their own products to sell.  One year I made a nativity set using blocks cut from two by fours and helped our children create their own.  I love the simplicity of the set and enjoy pulling it out every year.  Prior to our move, this was displayed in our outside entry to remind guests that Jesus is the reason for the season.

 

Wooden Winter Set

One of the projects our son created for the Christmas Open House was a wooden winter scene that included a house, trees, and personalized snowmen for each family member.  At thirteen he was skillful with the jigsaw and took orders for a variety of handcrafted Christmas decorations.  I love displaying my son’s handiwork in remembrance of working together to create memorable items for other families to enjoy.

 

Simple Nativity

As a believer in Jesus Christ, I desire to keep the focus of Christmas on the manger.  The Son of God came as a baby to live a perfect life in order to provide the sacrifice required to reconcile you and me to our Heavenly Father (2 Corinthians 5:17-19).  Rather than Santa, the nativity scene take center stage in our home at Christmas.  Over the years, my staff has given me many lovely gifts.  One of my favorites, is a simple, rustic nativity that appears to have been cut from a tree, symbolizing both His humble birth and sacrifice on the cross.

As you seek to keep Christ in Christmas, I encourage you to enjoy the simple things that remind you of His reason for coming and our reason for living.  He came because He loves us, and we live to make His love known (1 John 4:10-12).  Celebrate what God has done and is doing, in the lives of those you love.  Love those God has placed in your circle of influence.  Enjoy the simplicity of being with family and friends.  Share one another's burdens, make them lighter if you can, and pray for one another.

May Christ be the center of your Christmas and love be shared in response.