“Have Yourself A Merry Little Memory”

Christmas provides many people with wonderful and lasting memories. Reminiscing about one’s life while giving focus to some of the milestones surrounding this day can be rewarding.

Many of us remember some special time or event from our first Christmas recollections. Several of my early Christmases were spent with my mother and grandparents as my father was away in the military during World War II. On the Christmas that comes to mind, I remember my mother reading me a letter from my father, who was somewhere in France. We missed each other very much during that Christmas and shared a strong desire to be together.

What memory do you have of the first Christmas season after you left home for the first time? This occurred for me when I went away to college. After several months I was able to come home on Christmas eve. After a long train ride, I remember the excitement of seeing my family and knowing how much I wanted to be home for Christmas.

The Christmas decorations, the smell of my mother’s cooking, seeing my brother and sister, and sleeping in my own bed never seemed so good to me.

What about your memories of a Christmas when you were a newlywed? Do you recall learning the traditions of your spouse’s family, sharing your family traditions, experiencing your feelings as a new entity, a couple-team, rather than being by yourself? Do you rememberyour first Christmas as a parent?

Christmas takes on a whole new perspective as your child enters the picture, experiencing the blessing of having a new life to share this wondrous time of year.Record the happy memories and reflections and pass them on to your children and grandchildren. Traditions are built each year and are treasured for years to come.