Memories Of Christmas

         This time of year bring so many memories of Christmases I’ve shared with family and friends over the years. Some are not as pleasant as others due to the family’s financial circumstances, or loss of loved ones or maybe spending time in a jungle half way around the world.
 
         I remember once as a child at the family meal after saying grace my mother pointed to a scrawny fried chicken and said “This is our ham.” Pointing to the other items she explained what they all represented and explained to us just how much of a feast we were lucky to have. We dived right in and were enjoying the feast when I turned to my mother and asked her if we were poor. I was a little confused as my ham tasted like southern fried chicken.
 
         Mother pointed out that of course we were not poor. We just didn’t have any money. I’ve always remembered that and have always been thankful she was a strong Christian. Her strength and faith allowed her to successfully raise five boys and a girl to productive adulthood after being widowed at a young age. She took us from a dirty little coal camp to the capital city and saw us through college. She started college herself at the age of fifty-four.
 
         I remember one Christmas after one of our sons had spent quite some time in a coma after being run down by a hit and run driver when an angel from our church left a box of groceries on our front porch, rang the bell and drove away before we could express our thanks. That was our Christmas dinner that year. Our children never knew they were poverty stricken. But they knew they were loved. And all three have become loving, caring adults with families of their own.
 
         All of my Christmases no matter how poor I may have been or where I may have been have been wonderful because of family and friends. I love you all.
 
 

Merry Christmas!



Saturday December 23, 2006 - 01:47pm (EST) Edit | Delete | Permanent Link | 2 Comments