I read a post on FB and I can only share an overview because I can no longer find it. It pertained to Christmas giving and was written by a Mom trying to think what else she could buy for her kids for Christmas. She felt like what gifts she had weren’t enough.
We’ve all been there, right? Even as a Nana, I’m there right now.
The story continues as she reflects back to Christmas gifts received as a child, and how she couldn’t remember a single thing opened at Christmas. She remembered the food and the magic of Santa. She remembered reading about the birth of Jesus and the excitement she felt leading up to Christmas morning. She remembered the presents… but not what was inside of them.
While I agree with the concept, I do remember a bit more. 🙂
I remember Nanny and Pappa always bought me one gift… but it was a big gift and always the one thing I wanted. It was usually a doll. (As old as I am, if I had them now I’d be rich!) I remember getting a birthstone ring one year. Another year, I got one of those hair dryers you sit under (that Nanny was still using after her 95th birthday). I remember Scott getting a chemistry set and a “high gear” game. I was jealous over both those things.
I remember that my parents owned a grocery store that was open on Christmas Eve — when we opened our gifts. We always got started late and Mom made everyone eat chili before we could open anything. I remember Mom ate soooo slooooow. I also remember many of our presents were in brown bags or whatever bags they came in from the store. Mom would disappear and reappear by the tree with something else she’d purchased and hidden away.
I also remember Christmas Eve nights where Coco got tired of opening her gifts because she had so many… and I’m sure even then I wondered if it was enough.
The story closed with the author’s suggestion to stop worrying about gifts to purchase and instead focus on making memories.
When Christmas is over and years pass… everyone will only remember the way they FELT and not what they GOT.
Now you know: Alabama was the first state to officially recognize Christmas in 1836.