My memories of Christmas go back to very early in my life. I have very vague recollections of my toddler years in Seattle; Christmas lights. Definite memories of the holiday formed in my mind while living in Chehalis. Always our cute little imitation Christmas tree on a table and presents piled around it. Grandma and Grandpa, Uncle Bob, my family- we all gathered for a classic American meal of turkey soup left over from Thanksgiving, apple pie, and other delectable goodies. Oh the love and laughter that floated around at that time of year. And then the memories that define Christmas as my standard; Port Orchard. Here Tanner and I discovered that Santa Clause was actually two people, two people that we knew quite well. We were quite happy to make this discovery since our intellects just told us we had been having our legs pulled. Christmas time took on the best elements during these years in Port Orchard. Since we lived just up the road from Oma, she instructed me in the art of Krumkake making; Norwegian Christmas dessert that her mother Olga Sakariason had passed down to her. We faithfully ate our Julegrøt- Norwegian Christmas Eve dessert made from cooked rice, with cream, butter, and cinnamon-sugar on top. Oma always came up for package unwrapping- our German/Norwegian family tradition on Christmas Eve. Traditions from our mother countries became ingrained in my life during these years. Traditions will always be a part of my Christmas and they do contribute to the feeling of Christmas, however they aren’t everything to my definition.
Christmas day in Port Orchard meant that Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Bob would be coming over. We’ve been close to my dad’s family all my life. They knew how to make me feel important to them. In the earliest years of Port Orchard my Opa would be a part of our lives during Christmas, and sometimes even my mom’s brother and his family. I never can remember a Christmas that we all were together for a meal, but perhaps that occurred before my memory was functioning too well, back in Seattle. People came to our house for Christmas. Everything was perfect. Christmas was eagerly anticipated each year.
And then. And then the Christmas feeling changed. First Opa died, but I was only eight years old, and didn’t know him very well. However, losing my first person I knew to death changed me a lot. Christmases went on much the same. They were still complete with the childish Christmas dreams I held. But after I was twelve, Christmas has changed forever. Uncle Bob passed away after a long, hard battle with colon cancer, he being the prime source of joy to my siblings and I from our extended family. He was the most amazing person who had a heart that loved his little nieces and nephew. His death has changed my life more than any other event.
Family is the biggest component of Christmas. Of that fact I am so sure. No one loves you like family. When someone is missing forever from Christmas, it will never be the same. I long for the day when in Heaven the faithful will be reunited, but until then I know I will need to ever understand that no Christmas will never fit my imagination of a perfect Christmas.
As I’ve learned things over the few years of my life, I’ve come to appreciate that celebrating the gift that God gave us on Christmas day (although I don’t believe that Christ was born on Dec. 25) is the most important part of a holiday. Family will come and go, but Christ is my Alpha and Omega- always there for me.
Now I live somewhere totally different. Five Christmases near Kettle Falls and Colville has refined my theory on Christmas even more. The last two Christmases my Oma has been living with us. She is our one comfort of family. Dear Grandma and Grandpa celebrate with other family members on the west side of the state, while we do Christmas across the snowy state with church family. At least we are almost always guaranteed of snow over here. We enjoy the very best vegan meals here each Christmas, and truly enjoy the fellowship with good friends. Christmas changes in feeling but in spirit and meaning it will be the same all my life. One thing I can say, and that is thank-you God for sending us Jesus to give us the hope of salvation in Heaven one day soon.
No comments:
Post a Comment