One family night each December we loaded the family in our station wagon, along with several boxes full of oranges, apples, home baked goodies and other unknown wrapped items. We drove in the dark, singing Christmas carols, and stopping in strange neighborhoods at strange homes. Dad, Doug or Brad would sneak up to the house, place the box on the porch, ring the doorbell and dash back to the car parked down the street. It was the best kind of doorbell-ditching. Dad and Mom never told us who it was that was in need of some Christmas cheer, but a few times I remember seeing the silhouettes of those who came to the door, and could tell by their body language how excited and surprised they were. It always gave me a warm and grateful feeling to be able to help someone who I assumed was in need. These experiences became much more meaningful the year that our family was struggling financially. It was early December and we had not bought a Christmas tree yet. It didn’t seem like Christmas, and I think that all of us kids were feeling a little bit of concern. One night the doorbell rang. I think that Brad opened the door, but I was right behind him, and we were both amazed at what we found on the porch. My recall may not be precise, but I remember a Christmas tree and two or three boxes full of goodies and other items. What was in the boxes was really unimportant. I just remember feeling overjoyed that someone cared about us, because that meant that the Lord was aware of the worries of some of his children, and wanted to answer our prayers. In that moment I remembered the silhouettes at the homes we had visited other years, and then I understood that although it may be better to give than to receive, sometimes it was good to receive gifts of love with no ability to give back. That was a moment of pure joy.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Christmas memories #3: playing Santa
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The playing Santa and having someone play Santa for us ranks right at the top of my childhood Christmas memories. As with Ginny, the joy of being able to make another person or family's day, er probably better said month/Christmas was extremely satisfying. This joy was heightened by the fact that we did it anonymously. And of course, the added excitement of doing it ding-dong ditch 'em style added to the fun. It seemed as though none of us kids wanted to miss "playing Santa" as most of us came along for the ride. Despite many memorable Christmases and many memorable Christmas activities that happened from year to year - the Christmas music, the caroling, the buying and receiving of gifts, the wonderful food, the holiday decorations, stocking stuffing, treats in the shoes, singing Holy Bells, acting out the nativity, and all the cheer, my favorite Christmas was the year someone played Santa for us. It was during a year when Dad had been out of work, and I recall Mom and Dad explaining that we shouldn't expect much for Christmas. Knowing our financial situation I, and the others, seemed to be understanding and had adjusted our expectations accordingly. Then the doorbell rang that evening, and whichever of the kids opened the door and found that someone had played Santa for us, let out a yelp and we all came running to see what "Santa" had left us. I realized then that we would have a Christmas, and while it would be much more meager than normal, the fact that someone had done for us what we'd so enjoyed doing for others touched my heart. For that matter each time I recall that Christmas my heart is touched again at the kindness of someone else showed to us, and to the joy we felt when we had done the same for others.
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