Cherishing Old Memories, Embracing New Traditions
With Christmas fast approaching, more and more people are putting up their lights and trees, and despite the fact that it is still 80 degrees outside, many people are beginning to prepare for the Christmas season. One of the best ways to prepare for the Christmas ahead is by looking to Christmas’ in the past to reflect on the memories made through the years. I find myself in an interesting place this Christmas season. For my entire life, I have spent Christmas in Oklahoma City with my family at my grandparents’ house. Last year, however, was the first Christmas after they both passed. After twenty-one Christmases with them, it was tough to celebrate without them. While still getting used to this, I am also starting new Christmas traditions with my wife, Emma, as we spend our first Christmas together since getting married. Sadness met with joy.
I am looking forward to these new traditions, and in this season, I also enjoy looking back on the past ones.
Christmas Eve in Oklahoma City was spent with all my aunts, uncles, and cousins for Christmas Eve dinner, games, and time spent together. Once everyone left, I would try my hardest to fall asleep on the air mattress downstairs at my grandparents’ house. I would lay there with both eyes closed but both ears open, listening for the sounds of sleigh bells until I drifted to sleep. Christmas morning began at 5 am sharp. Well, for my grandpa, at least. He would wake up, put on a pot of Folgers, and sit at the table eating any cookies Santa may have left behind. My grandpa loved to serve those he loved. Perhaps his favorite way of doing this was through the Christmas morning breakfast he was soon to begin preparing. On more than one occasion, I would wake up to the sound of him getting out pots and pans. My heart would begin to race as I thought maybe this was the year I would catch the man in red. I crept slowly and silently up the stairs to the living room, not making a sound. I never saw Santa, but what I saw instead was something I have grown to miss so dearly. There was my grandma, sitting in her chair reading yesterday’s paper and my grandpa delivering her a fresh cup of coffee in between flipping pancakes, which he always made special with chocolate chips just for me. I would stand and watch for a moment before going to the kitchen to help my grandpa finish breakfast before waking my parents and brother to come to the table.
When I was younger, I just wanted to get through breakfast to get to the presents as any child would. But as I got older, I began to cherish those moments around the table, and I am so glad I did. Little moments have become lifelong memories that I will always hold on to. Lifelong memories that will be present with me and influence the new traditions and the new memories I will begin making this year. I am so thankful that through faith in Jesus, I will see my grandparents again. I am so thankful the Lord has blessed me with the family that has been right by my side through these memories. And I am so thankful for the wife he has put in my life to create new ones with. Above all, I am thankful for the birth of the savior of the world, Jesus, the Christ.