OK EVERYBODY- A QUESTION.....

[warthog]

...What are your favorite memories of Christmas??I bet we can all relate some that stir many fond memories...When I waas young;my parents made a BIG deal out of it...My father would be up at 4 in the morning;running thru the house,yelling"EVERYBODY UP!!SANTA HAS BEEN HERE-AND WOW!!LOOK AT ALL THEM GIFTS FOR EVERYBODY!!"Afterward,my aunt and uncle and our cousins would arrive for dinner-we would gather around the table;and eat and spend time together;as families should do...After my Dad died;things werent the same ...but;I have many memories from that time that are priceless-We still had out family get-togethers at our house;or one of my 3 married sisters houses...watching my neices and nephews tear into those presents;their eyes lighting up...and OH;those Christmas dinners..more food than Carter's army could eat...Togetherness as a family-The warm house,all them good smells and sounds...Now;all my 3 sisters are scattered to the wind;but still celebrate Christmas with their respective families separately...I have been going with my wife to my in-law's for Christmas since I met her...They make it a point to ask me to say the Blessing before we eat on Thanksgiving;and Christmas...also;Christmas Eve Service with my wife and in-laws is a given-Always has been,always will be.In my opinion;the Carols;the gift giving,and the meals are nice-but;JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON-Celebrating the SEASON with FAMILY is the best...

 

[Pete in MI]

then for me it has rarely been a memorable (positive) Christmas. Family was never close. Gifts were few and far from memorable. No outstanding Christmas dinners. Nothing I can recall that sticks out to cheer people up with. Sad but oh well.

What I do try to remember is the gift given to us all - God's only Son who came to bring us back into the family of God by giving himself as the spotless sacrifice for all our sins.

As you said "He is the reason for the season". I have received the one gift that is beyond any other gift anyone else could ever give. How could any other gift compare? This Christmas won't be anything fancy either for many reasons.

Thank you Father God for your gift of Love. That Love, I will always remember as being my best gift I have ever received.

 

[Anonymous]

The main thing I remember is this. My father was in the Army & Air Force for 21 years. So most of time, 1 to 13 years old. We were gone on Christmas. So on Christmas Eve. We would get together. Have a meal then would open a gift sent from Home. It was like bring the rest of the family to you on Christmas. You miss seeing family when your are a kid. I'm 43 now. We still go to my Mom & Dads house on Christmas Eve. Then we all going to Church for Midnight service. It's one of the best fillings to have all your family at Chruch on this great day.

God Bless

 

[MI$$OURI BETTY]

my favorite memory is going to my grandmother's house (dad's mom...as my other grandmother died of the deadly flu in 1919 when mom was seven)...on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas Day. She was a good German cook and everything was delicious with both Chocoate and White Fudge with big Black Walnut kernels in it! Yummy---yum---yum! But most of all was the love she showed to me, as that was what I needed and she was a Christian and loved me very much!

My dad was very strict and unloving so I was starved for love although mom showed it the best she knew how, for she wasn't raised with a mother, only a father and relatives! And as far as Christmas gifts there weren't many as there wasn't much money for things like that back in my childhood!!

But the wonderful part is when I accepted Jesus as my own personal Savior and He has shown me the best love of all...."Praise God and Thank You, Jesus, that you saved a poor lost soul, who was me, in need of a Savior and understanding!" I cannot thank my Lord enough for what He did for the world and for me!

May all have a very merry time during the holidays and give God the praise no matter what our circumstances may be on Christmas Day, for our best gift is JESUS!

God Bless!
Betty

 

[Mike from MI "Iron Brigade"]

one memory that I can say was my favorite is when I was first married. I attended a get together at my wifes uncles with that side of the family. There before opening any gifts her uncle read the story of Jesus' birth. (The Christmas Story) That was meaningful. They still do that till this day. So ever since we have had kids, I now too do just that before any gifts are open. I hope my kids pass that on to my future grand kids!

 

[warthog]

...After church yesterday;our church was decorated for Christmas...I was talking to a woman that attends-she is kind of mentally-challenged;to put it nice...She has 3 beautiful children;and she was carryimg on about how her mother used to abuse her-
her mother is dead now;and she still has a lot of anger toward her mother...She said"at least I will never treat my kids like my mother treated me!!"...I told her "THERE YA GO!! YA LEARNED A GREAT LESSON FROM THAT TIME IN YOUR LIFE;DIDNT YA??"...I told her you cant change the past-but you CAN change some things about your future...We all can;I guess...I knew some people grwoing up-Christmas for them was no more than a day off work to get drunk...... I JUST LOVE Christmas Eve Service...My favorite!!!

 

[Mike Chgo area]

That was a great Christmas. These days I think a lot about the people who will not get anything for Christmas. If you read this please pray for them.

 

[VT Dave]

as they tumble down to look at the tree!