Mom wasn’t a fan of Christmas. She didn’t raise her children to believe in Santa and our tree didn’t go up until well into December.
Mostly Mom despised the commercialism of the holidays, openly cringing at the first Christmas ad on TV or first decorations to show up on store shelves.
Of course, it didn’t help that the ag economy crashed when she and Dad had five children looking forward to gifts under the tree.
It was hard enough paying a farm operating loan at 19-percent interest while supporting a family of seven.
If you think Christmas shopping is stressful, try it when your list is twice as long as your budget.
Mom’s attitude toward the season had nothing to do with her attitude toward Christian salvation.
She loved her Lord and dearly loved the celebration of Christ’s birth.
We have fond memories of tinsel on the tree, opening presents and indulging in candy, but we also grew up knowing the story of Luke 2 and understanding why we celebrate Christmas.
“Whose birthday is it today?” she asked her children and later her grandchildren.
And she delighted in little voices singing “Happy Birthday to Jesus” at her request.
As a grownup, I looked for ways to instill these values in my own children.
One December when the boys were little, we received a card in the mailbox from a stranger.
The handwritten message was, “Merry Christmas from your Secret Santa.”
Tucked inside the card were movie gift cards that also covered popcorn and sodas. “Enjoy a night out with your boys,” the note said.
We weren’t destitute by any stretch of the definition, but we had recently found ourselves in a single parent (and single income) home.
Movies weren’t the sort of everyday luxuries we afforded, so the gift was a welcome treat.
The truly random act from a person who didn’t want credit made the gesture all the more endearing.
More valuable than the cost of the movies was the effect the gift had on us. It proved there’s a great deal of power in simply being kind, and it made us want to be kind, too.
The boys were more eager to share, and we envisioned our kindnesses having similar effects on recipients … to the extent that they might be kind to someone else.
In the spirit of Christ’s birthday, let’s all consider the gift of kindness, even if it’s the kind that doesn’t cost money.
•Smile at someone who’s frowning.
•Be empathetic with the mom whose toddler is screaming in the store aisles.
•Be patient with the senior counting out coins at the cash register.
•Allow a motorist to take the parking spot you were waiting for.
•Let someone ahead of you in line.
Life is hard enough for so many people for so many reasons. Kindness helps.
Merry first Christmas in heaven, Mom.
Thanks for hating the season for all the right reasons.