A Few Christmas Memories

I find myself looking back this Advent to remember traditions my parents and my siblings shared. Many of them are simple, but they give me deep joy and peace at how wondrous it is to be present during this season.  One of our traditions was to go out to a farm and pick a beautiful live Christmas tree. It had a large root ball and was quite heavy. The hole where it would be planted was already dug and prepared. For me today this is a symbol of hope. We are not cut down during Advent, but rather planted to grow again in Spring. There is much to look forward to in the slower months of winter. A lot is happening beneath the soil. We do not see much in the brown earth, but we can only trust in the waiting. We will know when the tree begins to grow new shoots.  

The second  memory is driving around in the family automobile and looking at all the lights on houses and trees. We called them “pretties.” They made us happy and joyful.  Light is important at this time of the year. We have less and we seek more. More than anytime of our calendar year in Advent we light candles to feel their warmth in color and their brightness. Let us seek all the light we can at this time for we are surrounded by darkness. 

Joy is the third gift we witnessed. Countless Christmas’ seasons I remember singing Christmas carols in the car with my family. There is the joy of singing in church and in choirs, but there is something magical about singing as a young child with your mother and father and your siblings. As the third Sunday approaches my heart is filled with longing and the possibility of great and complete joy. For now I wish you hope, light and joy at this time.  I give thanks for  my parents and for my sisters and brother and for our growing family.

May your Christmas be bright and full of God’s peace.

Love, Linda & Gregory

Hope, Light and Joy