Query Family Christmases

Some of my fondest childhood memories center around Christmas. We were not well off financially but we always had a wonderful Christmas. Our Christmas celebration was full of love and laughter and it was fairly traditional all except for one thing: we had it in the middle of the night! It was not until several years later that I realized that most people don’t have Christmas at 3:00 a.m.

My dad worked a second job as a musician and didn’t get home until around 2:00 or 3:00 a.m. So instead of him going straight to bed and having to wake up in a couple of hours, we’d all get up when he got home. By the time we were done opening presents, my mom would fix us a big breakfast and then she’d lay back down for a morning nap while we played with our new toys. Then it was off to my grandma’s for a visit and dinner. Grandma would give each grandchild a small gift or maybe just a dollar bill for Christmas, but the size of the gift didn’t matter to me. I loved my grandma and grandpa so much! After a day of food and fun playing with my cousins and siblings, we’d pile back into the car and fall asleep on the ride back home.

When I was old enough to drive and shop for presents on my own, I remember going to K-Mart or Ayr-Way (which was later bought by Target) and getting all my Christmas shopping done in one day. I used my own money from working and I tried to stick to a budget. I’d have a list of what I thought they would like to have and tried to stick to it. To me, it really didn’t matter that my gifts were from a discount store. I thought the gifts were perfect, as I felt I was a pretty picky shopper. I remember enjoying buying my family hand-picked Christmas gifts and believe this is when I first remember experiencing the blessing of giving gifts.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

Our family Christmas card in 1961 or 1962; Dad, me, Eldon, Dennis, Joyce, Dougie, Ronnie, and Mom.

Now many years later, with grown children and ever-growing grandchildren, I still enjoy giving gifts at Christmastime, but it’s being all together and making family memories that I cherish the most. Our Christmas gatherings have taken on a deeper meaning to this aging wife, mom, and grandmother. Lord willing, I’ll have many more Christmases and many more years here on earth, but I know my days are numbered.

“As for man, his days are like grass: he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone … But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him.” Psalm 103:15-17

One day God will take me home and in turn, I’ll be but a memory to my loved ones, awaiting the day we see each other again in heaven. In the meantime, it’s my hope and prayer that each one of our loved ones will have personally received the most perfect gift ever, the LORD Jesus Christ.

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” 2 Corinthians 9:15