When I was a child growing up in Minnesota, Christmas was a time of snowsuits, moon boots, mittens, stocking caps with the big ball on top and my plastic sled that I would ride down the little hill in our front yard. We never had much money, but we had great memories. We were a little family of three, me, my brother and my mom. Every Christmas Eve my mom would make cranberry bread and we would eat it warm with “real” butter. I do not remember much about my childhood, but I do remember that little house on 38th and Vincent and those four steps I would climb to go back down that little hill on my sled again.

When I was a teenager, Christmas became about getting gifts. I remember being so mad whenever I would open a new sweater or a pair of jeans, that were much needed but not wanted at all. I wanted an Atari game so I could spend the whole day in front of the television. I remember getting so mad that I did not get what I wanted. Then being from a single parent home, I would go over to my dad’s house and all I cared about was what I was going to get. My step mom would cook the best meal, ham and all the Minnesota fixings, but I did not care that our table was full with my brothers and sisters around it, I just wanted my gift and I wanted to get out of there. Oh the life of a hurting teenager, selfish to the core I was.

Then I moved to Seattle, college life was the best life. I had friends who were closer than family. I was living in the city of my dreams, but Christmas came and everyone would go home to their family and I would stay alone in my dorm room or apartment. No money to fly home and to what home would I go, my mom was in MN and my dad was in MO. Lonely, not married, just me and my little Christmas tree. Oh to have the days of the snowsuit and plastic sled again or the meal my step mom made. Christmas became a hard time of year for me, for many years.

I got married in my late 30’s, I was living in Malaysia and there was no snow on Christmas, so I had to adjust to having Christmas in shorts and a t-shirt. But it still was Christmas because there was the tree, the gifts underneath and my new little family. I was not thinking about what I was getting, I was so excited about what I got for my husband, housemate and son. Oh I could not wait for the look on their faces when they saw what I got them. The delight of Christmas was about giving not receiving now. I remember the look on my husband’s face when he saw the MacBook I bought him. Oh the hugs and kisses I got that morning I will never forget.

Now today it is the morning before Christmas and all through the house my son is not stirring and my dog is asleep in my bed. The tree is lit with gifts underneath that I am so excited for my son to see. We don’t have many gifts, but we are rich because of the people we are going to see. It is Sunday morning the real treasures will greet us as we walk through the doors of Hope UC. The smiles on their faces, the hugs around my neck, remind yet again that I am so blessed. Christmas is hard for many as memories and traditions we want to make, but with the Spirit of God every Christmas is unique. It is the adventure of walking with the Spirit. I have to go get dressed and pictures you will see, not of gifts I received from under a tree but of me with the people who truly love me and my little family. Merry Christmas my friends, and remember love God and love people for these are the gifts that make Christmas truly special for you and me.