It Is Beginning To Look A Lot Like Home And Family

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It Is Beginning To Look A Lot Like Home And Family

Monday, March 8th, 2010 Subscribe To Our Feed

The spirit of Christmas descends upon a nation. The child inside each of us renews the holiday traditions within their families. We yearn for the peace on earth feeling that inspires acts of generosity. Our hopes are refreshed and we count our blessings.

I strained a bit loading the double stroller, crib, and baby bath toys into the eddie bauer convertible. The kids are coming home for the holiday. Our youngest daughter is a Mom now and we are preparing from bath to bedroom to have our granddaughter with us for her first Christmas.

My wife and I spread the tubs of decorations out in the family room. I stacked firewood outside and put a couple 3-hour burning store logs by the hearth. As night arrived early I put the outside lights on to twinkle and chase. Soon the sounds of car doors and kids were heard and we met them at the door.

From New York City apartments to ranches in Montana families were gathering for Christmas. It is the blending of sounds from the conversations dipped in laughter to the glad voices of kids that are the holiday soundtrack. Folks decorating trees with favored ornaments both new and the ones that tells stories about a family.

Hot buttered drinks and cider, Christmas music playing, and finally the star affixed to the top of the tree. The kids were watching a favorite holiday movie and the adults settled down to visit. I held my granddaughter and marveled at the resemblance to her mother and my wife.

The next day was Christmas Eve and the kids all opened one gift after supper. The turkey was in the oven and we were off to midnight services to worship with our family. The grandchildren saw their parents and grandparents modeling their faith. Holding my daughter’s baby made me think about that baby born so long ago.

Faith, hope, and love cannot be gift wrapped. My wife had diplomatically put out the word that shopping for the kids was okay. She had something else in mind for the parents. Aunts and Uncles would be challenged in a way that the siblings would appreciate.

My wife wanted everyone to spend time and put effort into their Christmas gifts. She decreed that all presents were to be under ten dollars in cost or materials. The presents were to be made by their own hand. They could be funny, sentimental or useful.

Looking back on our Christmas day celebration I can say it exceeded my expectations. The children were excited, the meal was prepared with loving hands, and the gifts were imaginative. Everyone wrote a Christmas memory down on paper and it went into the family Christmas book. I am looking forward to next year’s chapter.

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