Christmas Reflections
I think my father's Christmas wish came true. All four of us sat together and had breakfast, he made out pancakes, (mine in the form of Mickey's head) just like when we where kids.
Every year Christmas was the same, we ran from one persons house to another's arriving home exhausted. Our only time together as a family was early Christmas morning. My dad would make pancakes then they would wake us up, (yes, it was a rare Christmas my brother and I would be up before our parents)we would eat breakfast then open our presents. Dad would play with us and our new toys. Mom would watch and sometimes take pictures.
Then our time would be up and we had to rush and dress to begin our day of running. I never really understood why we had to run so much on Christmas, by the end of the day the stress of getting everywhere on time and being tired led to at least one fight usually several. My brother and I wanted to be home that is where our new toys where after all.
The two things I looked forward every Christmas where the Christmas Eve service at church and our pancake breakfast. I sang in the JR choir and every year we sang for the family service in the Sr choir loft. It was a great treat for that evening we where the Sr choir. We carried the show and worked hard to learn all the songs. Our normal routine was to sing one or two songs once a month on family Sunday. To be the choir for the evening was nerve racking to say the least. I loved it! I always sat in the same seat because I generally had a solo and I wouldn't sing a solo unless I was hidden from view. I loved the charged in the air while we dressed in our robes and prepared to go one. The nervous chatter, the excitement of it all, I was just to shy to stand up in front of everyone and sing on my own. I remember doing it like it was yesterday, and I miss it very much. I miss walking out of church and heading home with my family feeling proud of myself, feeling the spirit of Christmas, in a way sorry it was over wishing I could do it again.
I love the church that I attend now but, at Christmas I miss the church of my youth. I miss hear the story of Christmas. I miss the pageant of kids who do not know what they are doing acting out the scene. The message at Christmas is the one of truth, that Christ was born and died for us so that we may have eternal life if we choose to accept the gift.
There is something about Christmas that makes a person long for traditions, I knew when I became a member of my church that the pageant was a the traditions I was going to be giving up. It is just not what we do. When I was 18 and moved out of my parents house I still went home in my PJs on Christmas morning for our pancake breakfast. The last few years lunch with Grandma was so early that we could not have our breakfast together and I have missed it.
A week ago I took my Mom to meet her favorite author and to get the newest book signed. On the walk to the store we talked about Christmas and I shared that I miss our breakfast that it was our one tradition and I hated not being able to do it. That is why when my father said we are having lunch later and that breakfast was on I was a very happy camper.
The four of us finished wrapping and talked and laughed together. We opened our gifts and really had a nice morning. It felt like Christmas to me. I felt like I was part of my family for the first time in a long time. My dad kept hugging me he was happy that his family was together and happy.
They headed off to see the extended family and I headed home to my sick bed, but this was the best Christmas in a long while. A memory to be treasured, family together loving one another.
I think my father's Christmas wish came true. All four of us sat together and had breakfast, he made out pancakes, (mine in the form of Mickey's head) just like when we where kids.
Every year Christmas was the same, we ran from one persons house to another's arriving home exhausted. Our only time together as a family was early Christmas morning. My dad would make pancakes then they would wake us up, (yes, it was a rare Christmas my brother and I would be up before our parents)we would eat breakfast then open our presents. Dad would play with us and our new toys. Mom would watch and sometimes take pictures.
Then our time would be up and we had to rush and dress to begin our day of running. I never really understood why we had to run so much on Christmas, by the end of the day the stress of getting everywhere on time and being tired led to at least one fight usually several. My brother and I wanted to be home that is where our new toys where after all.
The two things I looked forward every Christmas where the Christmas Eve service at church and our pancake breakfast. I sang in the JR choir and every year we sang for the family service in the Sr choir loft. It was a great treat for that evening we where the Sr choir. We carried the show and worked hard to learn all the songs. Our normal routine was to sing one or two songs once a month on family Sunday. To be the choir for the evening was nerve racking to say the least. I loved it! I always sat in the same seat because I generally had a solo and I wouldn't sing a solo unless I was hidden from view. I loved the charged in the air while we dressed in our robes and prepared to go one. The nervous chatter, the excitement of it all, I was just to shy to stand up in front of everyone and sing on my own. I remember doing it like it was yesterday, and I miss it very much. I miss walking out of church and heading home with my family feeling proud of myself, feeling the spirit of Christmas, in a way sorry it was over wishing I could do it again.
I love the church that I attend now but, at Christmas I miss the church of my youth. I miss hear the story of Christmas. I miss the pageant of kids who do not know what they are doing acting out the scene. The message at Christmas is the one of truth, that Christ was born and died for us so that we may have eternal life if we choose to accept the gift.
There is something about Christmas that makes a person long for traditions, I knew when I became a member of my church that the pageant was a the traditions I was going to be giving up. It is just not what we do. When I was 18 and moved out of my parents house I still went home in my PJs on Christmas morning for our pancake breakfast. The last few years lunch with Grandma was so early that we could not have our breakfast together and I have missed it.
A week ago I took my Mom to meet her favorite author and to get the newest book signed. On the walk to the store we talked about Christmas and I shared that I miss our breakfast that it was our one tradition and I hated not being able to do it. That is why when my father said we are having lunch later and that breakfast was on I was a very happy camper.
The four of us finished wrapping and talked and laughed together. We opened our gifts and really had a nice morning. It felt like Christmas to me. I felt like I was part of my family for the first time in a long time. My dad kept hugging me he was happy that his family was together and happy.
They headed off to see the extended family and I headed home to my sick bed, but this was the best Christmas in a long while. A memory to be treasured, family together loving one another.
posted by Chris | 11:24 AM
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