Editor’s note: In a year when families will not gather in our homes, perhaps celebrating instead by phone or online, I thought it might be somewhat uplifting to remind others of the great times we enjoyed in years past. Those were the opportunities when we could hug, hold hands, and celebrate the blessing of togetherness…opportunities many will miss this year, including Helen and me. The post below is one that I shared with readers four years ago. I felt it worthy of a rerun.
“And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” 1 Luke: 35
When our two boys were very young, we had a handmade wall hanging on with a Christmas tree sewn onto the fabric. The Christmas tree had 24 pockets containing a symbol of the Christmas season, such as a star or a small elf that could be pulled from a pocket and pinned to the tree. Every year on the first day of December, the tree came out of storage, and our boys fought over who would get to pull the first surprise from that day’s pocket. They alternated every day after that, and neither boy would dare miss a turn on his day as the designated “puller.” It was a delight to witness the fun.
Some of the most cherished aspects of the Christmas season are the traditions, which seem to begin as simple events, repeated a second time, then enhanced and repeated once more. In a relatively short number of years, an event created to entertain or amuse or pass some time until we exchanged gifts or enjoyed a meal becomes a treasured tradition.
One year someone in my wife’s family gave everyone a well-intentioned gift of some packaged baked biscuits that were so hard they were inedible. Most of the family members politely thanked the giver and then quietly sent the gift out with the spent wrapping paper. Unnoticed was one member of the family who saved his package of biscuits. The next year he rewrapped them and placed them under the tree at the family gathering to be opened by a clueless in-law. We howled with laughter when the recipient removed the wrapping and began a new tradition. For years after that, some unsuspecting family member received that same rock-hard package of biscuits as it passed from one person to another. This tradition ended when someone sent the biscuits to my son, serving with the Army in Kosovo. Legend has it that a very grateful goat enjoyed them on Christmas morning.
However, the one tradition that I remember most fondly began with my mother-in-law, a devoted Christian and probably one of the most joyful people I have ever known. Every year as the family gathered to celebrate Christmas, “Grandmother La-La” would assemble all her grandchildren around the Christmas tree. Before a piece of candy was eaten, or a stocking emptied, or even a pigtail pulled, she would have them sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus as she held their tiny hands and joyfully smiled at her flock as only a proud grandmother can. She would then thoughtfully and thoroughly explain to the little ones (and remind the rest of us) that the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, was the real reason for the season.
Over the years, our family created some new traditions and discarded a few as well, but I always felt that a birthday song for our new-born Savior was one of the most sincere and loving ways to teach our children the true meaning of Christmas. Now that we are scattered far and wide at this time of the year, it is difficult to repeat this tradition, but it is one that I’m certain they still remember.
Happy Birthday, Jesus. Traditions come and go, but, in 2021, may we remind ourselves daily that you are God’s great gift to all of us.
If anyone has a favorite tradition for the Christmas season, please share it with us in the comments below. Until next time, Helen and I send best wishes for a blessed and very Merry Christmas to everyone. Thanks to you all for Easin’ Along with us.
Blessed Christmas Joe. We need a little Christmas right about now.
Thanks, Nancy,
Best wishes to you and Dan. Stay well down there. Great hearing from you. Joe
Merry Christmas to both of you and your Families. The pictures posted here are excellent. Me and the Mrs enjoyed your easing along site over the past year so keep it up please. Wishing you a Happy & Healthy New Year. Rick & Deb
Rick,
Thanks so much for joining us in this challenging year. We plan to get back on the road in January and would love to have you along. Best wishes to you and Deb for a Merry Christmas and a blessed 2021. Stay well! Joe
Joe … I just love that story about Lottie Dean, Helen’s mom. You are so right … she was one of the most joy-filled people I have ever known. Her faith in Jesus was truly a light and a huge influence on so many people, including me. ♥️
Roberta,
We all miss Lottie greatly. She always had a smile on her face and she adored the grandchildren. Have a blessed Christmas and thanks so much for stopping by. Helen sends her best as well. Joe
Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks for sharing your stories and pictures!!! Here’s to 2021 being a much healthier and brighter year!!!!
Thanks, Luanne,
Best wishes to you, Frank, and your family for the Merriest ever! Joe
What a lovely post, Joe! Your use of the word “joyful” in relation to your mother-in-law makes me believe I now know exactly where Helen’s “cheerfulness gene” came from. To me, one of the saddest days of the year is the one on which we take down our Christmas tree. To ease the pain for the kids, we started a new tradition when they were young – hiding a tiny wrapped gift under the tree skirt for them to find when cleaning up. It was only a candy bar or a trinket from the dollar store, but it always brightened the day for them. Santa still leaves one for our daughter – and she’s 21 now.
Mary,
What a cute idea! I need to share that one with my boys. My grandchildren would love to find a treat under the tree as it comes down. My grandchildren in Charleston especially! As for Helen and me, our tree comes down in three pieces and goes back in a box awaiting next year…and we’re awaiting next year too!. Have a wonderful Christmas, and thanks so much for joining us in 2020. Joe
How absolutely heart warming to read this, Joe. Holiday traditions are so important for our culture and future generations. I loved your account of the stale biscuits passed on each year…my former in-laws did something similar. But singing happy birthday to Jesus around the Christmas tree? That gets me! If you get a chance to read my latest post, you’ll see that we have moved north and enjoying Christmas with my BIL. Merry Christmas to you and your wonderful family 🌲❤
Good morning, Terri,
I read you latest post last night and will upload an image today. I loved seeing the “surprise” that awaited you at you new homesite. I’ll bet you got pretty excited. It’s great to hear from you and that you made it northward safely. Have a wonderful Christmas and please stay in touch. Joe
Hi, Joe – I greatly enjoyed reading your Christmas traditions and viewing your beautiful photos. Wishing you and Helen a safe, happy and healthy holiday season.!
Good morning, Donna,
Wishing the same for you and Richard. I read an article last night about your part of the world. I am going to get in touch to see if you have any information about some of the areas where the writer suggested campgrounds large enough for our Dora. Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful week. Joe