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This time of year, we are all thinking about gifts. Children wonder what gifts they will get, hoping their biggest wishes come true. The rest of us check to make sure we have something for everyone on our list - from the Great Uncle in Arizona, to the neighbors, to the mailperson.
Every holiday circular touts the "perfect holiday gift," and every radio station reminds us how many shopping days remain. As a 42 year old man who has been very blessed throughout my life, I have received many Christmas gifts. And I can remember some of those that I have unwrapped in the presence of those
who love me, but those aren't the gifts I find myself thinking about now.
Giving
Growing up on a hog farm, we often would take a pig that wasn't growing quite as fast as the others and have it butchered for "whole hog sausage". If you aren't familiar with this idea, whole hog sausage is always better than regular sausage because it contains all of the meat of the animal - the parts
normally held out for the delicious hams and pork chops are included in the sausage giving it greater flavor.
Some of this sausage would be sold to people who knew how good it was. Some was placed in our freezer. But some was always shared at Christmas. On one day close to Christmas each year, Dad would fill a big box with frozen packages
of sausage and put it in the trunk of the car. Then Mom and Dad and my younger sister Paula and I would get in the car and head out.
Dad would drive to the homes of elderly people in our community and those in our church. We would never know who was on his list, and I would often try to figure out where we were going next as he drove.
We would pull up, Dad would pop the trunk and one of us would take our turn going to the door. Along with the sausage we might have some candy or homemade cookies. The message would always be the same as the recipients opened the door.
"Merry Christmas! We just wanted you to have a little something from our family."
"Thank you! Can all of you come in and visit for awhile?"
"No we have more deliveries to make"
"Thank you all so much!
"You're welcome - Merry Christmas!"
When the person delivering the package returned to the car, we would talk about what the recipient said, share their greetings with everyone in the car and off to the next house we would go.
Making
Most families have holiday traditions, and my family was no different. One of ours was making Christmas cookies. There were typically several kinds made: usually Peanut Blossoms, with the chocolate kiss in the center, Mexican Wedding Cakes all rolled in powdered sugar, and always (Great) Grandma Alley's Sugar Cookies.
Paula and I couldn't wait to ice the first Santa or Christmas tree or holly wreath that would come from the oven. With icing and sprinkles and colored sugar we would begin with gusto. By the last few cookies, with our stomachs full from dough and the cookies that had broken, I think we looked forward to being finished as much as we had anticipated starting a couple of hours before!
Christmas cookies are still a part of my holiday season. Thankfully, my wife likes to bake so this tradition continues for me to this day. And if I get up from this computer and walk to the kitchen, I could have a Peanut Blossom, a Mexican Wedding Cake, or one of those magical sugar cookies. . .
Remembering
Christmas isn't really about the boxes and the snow and the carols and the peppermint sticks. It is a celebration of the birth of Jesus.
This is why each year we read the Christmas story before or after we open our Christmas gifts. It reminds us why we are celebrating and it multiplies the joy we feel as we enjoy the gifts given and received.
This Year
I encourage you to think about giving, making, and remembering too.
Think about how you can give of yourself - of your time, or talents, or in other ways that don't require a trip to Target or Toy R Us, Macy's or the mall. Think of how and to whom you can give these gifts to with joy, rather than out of obligation because they gave you something last year.
Start a tradition for yourself and your family. Or revive one from years ago that somehow got lost from your annual to-do list. And remember the real reason for the season. If you celebrate Christmas as a Christian believer, remember the wondrous birth that we celebrate this time each year.
Perhaps this isn't your belief, and you celebrate for different reasons or a different holiday during this season. If that is so, please take my first two pieces of advice and apply them to your celebrations. If you believe as I do though, please take all three suggestions to heart, and to action.
I wish you the joy of giving of yourself, the treasure of memories made, and a very Merry Christmas.
Kevin Eikenberry
Gifts of the Season
"What we see depends mainly on what we look for."
John Lubbock
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The Puritans forbade the singing of Christmas carols.
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