Sharing Gifts and Making Memories

What gifts are wrapped under your tree? Gift giving at Christmastime can be a blessing or burden. . Do you love or lament when gift giving time is nigh?  Does Christmas and giving unto others make you grouchy like the Grinch or humbly like Jesus?  Perhaps, Mrs. Rice’s poems and remembrances from me can spark the  joy of giving - as the Little Drummer Boy did when  - JESUS... he did see.

“As once more, we approach the Birthday of OUR KING - Do we search our hearts for a GIFT we can bring.Do we stand by in awe like the small DRUMMER BOY who had no rare jewels, not even a toy,

To lay at Christ’s Crib like the Wise Men of old, who brought precious gifts of silver and gold -

But the DRUMMER BOY played for the Infant Child and BABY JESUS looked up and smiled, for the boy had given the BEST that he had,  and his gift from the heart made the Saviour glad - today HE still smiles on all those who bring THEIR HEARTS to lay at the FEET OF THE KING.

All the world has heard the story of the Little Christ Child’s Birth. But too few have felt the meaning of His mission here on earth. Some regard it as a story that is beautiful to hear, a lovely Christmas custom that we celebrate each year… But it is more than just a story told to make our hearts rejoice, It’s our FATHER up in heaven speaking through the Christ Child’s voice, Telling us of heavenly kingdoms that He has prepared above for all who trust His mercy and live only for His love...And only through the Christ Child can man be born again, for God sent the Baby JESUS as the Saviour of ALL MEN.

At Christmastime our hearts reach out to friends we think of dearly, and checking through our Friendship lists as all of us do yearly, we stop a while to reminisce and to pleasantly review happy, little happenings and things we used to do - And though we’ve been too busy to keep in touch all year. We send a Christmas greeting at this season of Good Cheer - So, Christmas is a ‘lovely link’ between old years and new, that keeps the ‘Bond of Friendship’ forever unbroken and true.”

The gift of celebrating 68 Christmases fills me to the brim with precious memories I pray will never end.  Personal memories of Christmases past rise up throughout the years, bringing giggles and  happy tears. The joy of times (gifts) shared with Father,  family,  friends, even strangers helps us understand the mission of the Baby born in a manger. How do we count the ways we love THEE… along with the gifts, memories, and blessings received while celebrating the reason for the season during the most wonderful time of the year?   

Two memories I still recall with detail and delight stir to end this story of giving - as did the Drummer Boy - who felt he had no gift to give. Yet, when he played his drum - giving his best... Jesus smiled; HEAVEN SMILED too!  Do you have memories of giving when your heart felt the divine  drumbeat...well done, well done, your best, your best, I ( /God, the Great I Am) am glad, I (Jesus, Messiah, Saviour) am glad, I (the Beginning and the End) am glad, I (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) am glad!

Two memories of  first Christmas Tim and I celebrated as man and wife brought us closer to one another and to the Lord.  We missed a blessing when a little girl - from Falcon Children’s Home - in my fourth grade class - asked if I would take her home  with me for the two week Christmas break. Her two brothers and younger sister had been adopted by local families those two weeks but she would be spending Christmas at the orphanage. My heart said...yes but no, for it was our first Christmas in our little mobile home on the corner near Tim’s family. I knew we missed the opportunity to open a gift that would have made Sylvia happy and heaven smile.

However, our second Christmas came with blessing someone special on our list. Christmas Eve came...Tim and I loaded his red 280Z with gifts galore for a man who lived alone.  I told Tim stories of this precious old man  always clad in overalls, old hat, chewing tobacco dripping from or stuck in his beard, wise and loving which many failed to see. He  lived down a dusty path in a little cabin and made a lasting impression on me. Mr. Dub walked  two miles to our country store for a little Coke, conversation with Daddy, playing checkers with farmers,  and spending time sharing stories with me.  Tim sensed my love for Mr. Dub and agreed we needed to bless him. So, my husband and I celebrated our second Christmas Eve in a little cabin warmed by a pot belly stove with a lonely man who grinned from ear to ear as we spun tales and blessed him with gifts and good cheer.   We sang, prayed, and warmed by his wood stove with a sweet spirit snuffing the stench inside and filling his home with joy and love.

  Hugs and smiles tendered our hearts as we waved good-bye...  Tim, me, and his shiny red car - feeling like Santa - did go!  We kissed and said  as we drove out of sight…”Merry Christmas Mr. Dub and to all a good night’!   Tim said, “Baby, this is what  Christmas is all about!”

 By God’s grace, James Vann and I were blessed with the gift of marriage on January 5, 2013. In 2014, James and I celebrated our second and last Christmas together enjoying our singing Christmas tree,  celebrating  a  Grandchildren week-end in our home going, having James’ family for Sunday lunch, joining my family for dinner at the old home place, watching holiday movies, giving gifts to friends and family, buying a new car together on December 23rd,  going to the doctor for a flu test on Christmas Eve, having breakfast and gifts with Cameron’s family,  goodies and gifts withTina’s family, sharing time with our Moms. In retrospect, I see now how God was lining up blessings before calling James Home.

 We both felt under the weather and contemplated waiting until the day after Christmas  to deliver the load of gifts that filled our Explorer...our first new card ever - bought together in  hopes of taking trips and exploring while growing old together. We had no idea, on that cold Christmas afternoon, James’ next trip would be to Heaven!

James felt worse than I did but insisted we make good our promise to be Santa to the family waiting for Christmas. James stopped in front of their apartment, put his hand on mine with words my heart replays as I write.  “Baby, you don’t feel well. Stay warm in the car; I’ve got this.” While watching, wiping tears, thanking Jesus and James, what to my eyes did appear through the side view mirror - ten little children and mom racing to our car with good cheer. Something inside stirred to be still, watch, and remember. Seeing James handing out bicycles, stockings, gifts, hugs, and a special  gift  for the Mom of two, wife of a bedridden husband, and aunt caring for her sister’s eight children- made me feel like the happiest wife in the whole wide world.  James was finally inside the car squeezing my hand as the mother tapped on the window with a look of love we three could understand. With children celebrating, mom crying, James shivering, and joy flowing, I scooted over the console close to my big hearted husband. He held me close, kissed my cheek, whispering words my heart sweetly repeats and safely keeps... ‘Baby,  this is Christmas; it feels good. I’m so happy!”  And we both said, “I love you!”

God gave me two gifts I open every time I think as Paul taught ..’on things that are lovely’ especially Christmas Day - two memories  of love etched in my heart to stay.

Countdown to Christmas is ticking fast; think on things lovely you can do for Father, family, friends, and neighbors -in need - that will last.  With  city sidewalks dressed in holiday style, gatherings planned, and lights blinking on your tree...be still and listen for signs we can hear and see. Take time for giving and making memories  with them and Thee...that will live in our hearts for eternity..