Christmas

That's me in the front, holding the baby doll. Yeah I know, it looks like a photo that was taken LONG time ago and you're right, it was!

I have very fond childhood memories of Christmas. We would wake up on Christmas morning filled to the brim with excitement. There could be a chance that Santa Claus could still be in our living room! We would have loved an opportunity to get a glimpse of the merry old soul. But we were a little afraid that if he saw us, we might scare him away and not get any gifts. So we took a turns peeking through the keyhole. Finally big brother would convince us that it was safe enter. As we walked into the living room, our eyes beamed. The stockings we had left out were chock full of candy, nuts and a tangerine. Under the tree were gifts for everyone. We knew which gifts were from Santa, because they were not wrapped. Our parents dragged themselves out of bed. A fire was started in the wood furnace and a nice warm breakfast was served.

Every Christmas our parents had to struggle to drag us children away from our new toys and get us ready to attend mass. We hated to part with our shiny new gifts, but there was nothing we could do about it. All of the new treasures would be waiting for us when we got home.

After church we would usually gather with relatives for a big feast of ham, scalloped potatoes, corn, dinner rolls made from scratch...and home made pies, candies and cakes. Our little bellies were stuffed!

Very fond memories indeed!

Santa was a big part of Christmas till about the age of 5 or 6. My big sister took it upon herself to share with me that there was no Santa. Of course I had questions. "But how do the toys get there? and "Who buys them?" She had been informed by our older brother that Mom & Dad were the ones who really bought the gifts and placed them under the tree. It didn't take me long to realize that there was no Easter Bunny or Tooth Fairy either. What a disappointment! I felt confused and sad. So, I did what any good sibling would do. I told my younger sister the truth about Santa. That way I didn't have to suffer alone. Well it didn't work, because she was too young and didn't believe me anyway. It was sad day.

The few short years that I believed in Santa were exciting Christmases. It added a sense of wonder and mystery.

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As I grew older the wonder of Christmas faded. It didn't mean much anymore.

The anticipation and excitement was diminished.

That is until I came to know personally the One whom Christmas is all about.

" The virgin will conceive a child!

She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
which means ‘God is with us.’”

God with us!!! God {Jesus} became human! I can never get over how amazing that is. What humility!! The Creator of the universe became a helpless infant born to a young virgin in a smelly and dirty stable that was meant for farm animals. Why would He do such a thing?

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."

A love like that draws me in.

He brings back the wonder and awe of Christmas!