Merry Christmas! Are you ready for the big day?
Fallowfield United Methodist carolers visited seven people on Monday, December 17. I think we really lifted spirits and touched hearts. I saw a few tears. We sang Christmas hymns, including special requests, such as “In the Bleak Midwinter,” “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” and, to our great amusement, “The Little Drummer Boy.” We laughed a lot because some of us forgot the lyrics. I smiled almost the entire two hours we caroled. The hugs from people we visited and the cookies they made or bought especially for us made it even more special.
As we drove around Atlantic-Lake, Lake, Adamsville, Leach, and other Atlantic community roads, my family and I were awed by the gorgeous Christmas lights. I’m so grateful to those artistic types in our community whose hard work brings joy to drivers on December’s dark days and nights.
Christmas caroling is one of my favorite parts about Christmas. It brings joy to both the carolers and the people we visit. I always bring my children, and I know it’s teaching them a valuable lesson.
I was blessed to sing “The First Noel,” a beautiful Christmas cantata by Joe E. Parks on Sunday, December 16, at Fallowfield. We had a good crowd and a large choir. This cantata covers the entire Christmas story, from Mary’s response to Gabriel’s announcement that she would be the mother of Jesus, to the humble birth, the shepherds’ visit, and our response to God’s greatest gift: His Son. The second-to-last song, titled, “What Can I Give to Him?” really hit home for me. I won’t plagiarize, so I’ll summarize. It said our gift to God in response to sending Jesus to save us from our sins is to give our hearts to Him, to love Him, and praise Him in song.
At this time of year, Christmas music is everywhere. It’s easy to sing praises to God. Even Walmart Radio was playing Christmas hymns last Wednesday night as I searched shelves for Rice Chex, chocolate chips, and peanut butter so my daughter could make Muddy Buddies for her friends.
Growing up, Christmas was a magical day. We’d get up around 6 a.m., which was as early as my parents would allow. One year we started trying to waken them around 3 a.m. That didn’t go over well.
After Mom and Dad gave us the go-ahead, we’d barrel downstairs and see our beautiful Christmas tree surrounded by gifts. That thrill is tough to equal as an adult. The last time I felt a thrill equal to that was the first time I saw and held my daughter and son.
We’d empty our stockings first, and there was always an orange or tangerine in the toe. That’s a nod to how special and rare these were when Mom and Dad were kids.
Opening presents was so exciting, as was watching my family’s reactions to the gifts I gave them. One year I bought Dad a pocket watch with a steam locomotive on the front. He was speechless.
We always had homemade cinnamon rolls for Christmas breakfast. When I was younger my late Grandma Moore and Grandma McEntire used to arrive around 8 a.m. to exchange gifts. We’d eat breakfast afterward.
One year as Mom prepared cinnamon rolls, she leaned forward and gazed up. There was something odd outside the kitchen window. Grandma Moore came to investigate, then let out a hair-raising scream and fled the room. Mom went upstairs and saw my little brother, Mike, leaning as far as he could out my window, dangling a six-foot rubber snake. He definitely got the reaction he’d hoped for. He loved to tease and harass my sister and I, and I guess he figured since he’d be safe from punishment on Christmas, he’d provoke Grandma a little. We never forgot it.
When I was in college, we decided it was time to give Grandma another special present. I still had one of the boxes I’d received my senior portraits in. It had a gold lid. We lined the box with red tissue paper and tied it with a curled bow. We got out the cameras as she opened it – typically a signal that this was a special gift.
“Oh, isn’t this pretty,” she said as she peeled back the tissue paper. Then -- a blood-curdling scream. She pushed the box off her lap with all her might. Turning to Mike, she punched him in the arm, something she’d never done before or did afterward. We laughed until we cried. Can you guess what was in the box? Yep. A rubber garter snake. We never forgot that Christmas either.
In Grandma’s defense, if someone wrapped up a gray toy mouse, I’d scream and put that person in a headlock. I’m glad my cat’s toy mice are green or blue.
Around lunchtime we’d head to my Grandma Louden’s house in Adamsville, where she and my Auntie Joanie would be waiting. Grandma Louden made Christmas magical. There’s no other word. Bing Crosby would be singing carols on her hi-fi as we entered her house. Baking ham would perfume the air, and presents would be piled two feet high around the base of her Christmas tree. She bought wrapping paper from Hallmark, always curled her ribbons, and carefully positioned bows on each box. She bought rolls sprinkled with sesame seeds from Lean’s Bakery in Greenville (I still miss those rolls!), and set out Brach’s peppermint Christmas tree nougats in cut glass dishes. No detail was overlooked.
Grandma was a devout Christian. She knew the maxim, “It is better to give than to receive,” and she was the most generous person I know. I’ll always cherish my memories of Christmas with my parents, siblings, auntie, and grandmas.
Now that I’m grown, I won’t pretend that I don’t like getting Christmas presents, or that I don’t relish the smiles on loved ones’ faces when they open a special gift. I won’t deny that I love cinnamon rolls so much that I make these for Christmas morning at our house and eat them again at my Mom and Dad’s house during Christmas brunch. Hey, calories don’t count on Christmas.
But this Christmas won’t be all about gifts. I’ll read the Christmas story, Luke 2:1-20, myself and listen to Dad read it during Christmas brunch. I’ll go to church on Christmas Eve, sing carols, and pray. I will remember that it’s Jesus’ birthday, not just an occasion to give gifts. And I’ll make Christmas memories. Maybe they won’t be as dramatic as Grandma’s shriek when she opened her garter snake gift, or as magical as eating a Lean’s roll while gazing at a mound of Christmas presents at Grandma Louden’s, but they’ll be precious, nonetheless.
Before I forget, you’re invited to attend Christmas Eve service at 7 p.m. at Fallowfield United Methodist. If you’re looking for a church family, I think you’ll feel very welcomed.
I pray you’ll have a blessed Christmas this year, that you’ll spend time remembering Jesus’ birth, His love for you, and cherish the day with loved ones.
All God’s blessings to you and yours this Christmas season.