Sweating the big stuff

CINDY TRANE CHRISTESON

“We have this moment to hold in our hand, and to touch as it slips

through our fingers like sand. Yesterday’s gone and tomorrow may

never come, but we have this moment today.”

-- Bill and Gloria Gaither

“The most vivid memories of Christmases past are usually not of

gifts given or received, but of the spirit of love, the special

warmth of Christmas worship, the cherished little habits of the home,

the results of others acting in the spirit of Christ.”

-- Lois Rand

“I am so excited about Christmas,” one woman said in the line

behind me at the drugstore. “I love everything about it, especially

what it really means.

“I just can’t wait for it to be over. It’s just a blur of buying

and busyness,” said her friend next to her. “It’s glitter, but no

meaning.”

I thought about the difference in their perspectives as I headed

toward the market. I’ve certainly felt those feelings. I asked a

friend what Christmas meant to her and she smiled and answered, “The

first words that come to my mind are children and traditions.”

That brief conversation sent me on a little treasure hunt to find

out what it means to others, especially children, and what traditions

others enjoy.

I asked some children what Christmas meant to them. My four-and-

1/2 -year-old niece Natalie said, “I l like to open presents and

decorate our Christmas tree. I also like to sing about Jesus and to

play.”

Her brother Max, who is almost 8 agreed with his sister and added

that he also likes to pray to God and thank him for baby Jesus. Their

sister Francesca, who is almost 10 years old, was eager to respond to

the question.

“Christmas is the time of joy and giving, and it’s Jesus’

birthday,” she said. “I like to be with family and do nice things for

others and put ornaments on the tree.”

I asked neighborhood children, and heard their excitement about

presents, saying the Lord’s Prayer and making cookies for Santa. I

spoke with some friends, and we agreed that there are many great

traditions to make Christmas special. Some we talked about were

candy-making parties, tree-trimming parties, flower arranging and

table decorating.

Each year I gave our daughters an ornament that had some

significance for that particular year, either reflecting an interest,

sport or a trip.

I’ve also heard about wonderful traditions of serving. When our

daughters were young, they went with my in-laws to ring the Salvation

Army bells, and we were involved through church to help others in

many different ways. I’ve also heard of families who go on mission

trips to serve others during the holidays.

Another of our favorites was a Happy Birthday Jesus party, when we

sang together and shared gifts we would like to give Jesus. Many of

us also remembered the tradition of placing little pieces of straw

next to an empty manger. Each time somebody did something nice, he or

she could put a piece on the manger, helping create a soft bed for

baby Jesus, who appeared in the manger Christmas morning. It’s always

a good time to focus on what really matters in life.