This time of year brings allot of fond memories for allot of us, and unfortunately not so fond memories for others. Some of my fondest memories for the Christmas season include memories with my large family… mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins and more cousins. My mom, dad and I would do a big dinner on Christmas eve and usually attend our churches Christmas eve service and then drive through certain areas of the city (San Francisco) to admire all the beautifully decorated houses. Once we got home it was time for all the yummy desserts and time to open presents! Then on Christmas morning, I would rush out to the living room to see what “Santa” left me and then opened our stockings. Sometime after breakfast, we would head over to my aunts house and have a day full of fun family games, more food and all us cousins would sit around the fire and open more gifts.
It’s fascinating to me to hear all the different traditions that families have around the Christmas time. One that my mom and I had for a long time was shopping the weekend of Thanksgiving. We always took a long bus ride to the heart of downtown San Francisco and would shop all day until it got dark and then head back home, on the bus with all of our shopping bags. As I grew into an adult, work took presidents over shopping that weekend. Usually by Thanksgiving I had and have all my shopping done. Working in the malls six days a week through December, the last thing I wanted to do on my day off was go back into the mall to deal with the same people that I dealt with all week long.
I love baking! One of my favorite things to do during Christmas time is bake while listening to my favorite Christmas songs and in between watching all the favorite Christmas movies that are on t.v.! I also enjoy making soap to give as gifts to all my friends.
As I have gotten older, especially in the past few years Christmas seems to have changed… or maybe it’s me that has changed. People don’t say “Merry Christmas” to you any more, in fear that they might offend you. Instead they take Christ out of it and tell you happy holidays. You don’t see as much giving from the heart as in helping people in need, it’s more about rushing off to this party and then that party and all about materialistic gifts. It seems few people stop and slow down to truly reflect on what the Christmas season is really all about. Pastor Jason made a comment this Sunday about how the whole world is forced to think about Christ at this time of year. Regardless of their religion and beliefs they are forced to recognize the birth of Christ this one time, every year! I never looked at it that way, but it is very true.
What are some of your favorite memories or traditions? Are you in the rare majority that tells everyone Merry Christmas? Have you slowed down to reflect the real meaning of Christmas and what that means for you? I hope you take time this busy season and remember to breathe and what this holiday truly represents.
Merry, Merry Christmas to you all…
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