Cooking my first Christmas turkey was one of those times. My husband was doing the carving when he exclaimed, "What's this?" His knife had come in contact with a small white bag tucked inside the bird. This brought all the family around. I blushed and backed away. The bag contained, what I quickly learned from my mother-in-law, something called giblets (the turkey's liver, heart, kidneys and gizzard). Yep. Up until this time, I had only cooked small chickens and didn't know about the special packaged tucked in the bird to embarrass new brides. We removed the 'foul' object and ate the bird anyway.
A word like poignant comes to mind as I place my Christmas ornaments on the tree. I handle each one with reverence and love. They remind me of my children when they brought home simple crafts and helped spark excitement for the holiday. Some take me back to my own childhood and missing parents and family. Many of them conjure thoughts of other homes or our family excursions to cut down a tree.
The angel I put on the top of my tree gives me trouble every year. She wobbles and tilts till I feel weak from stretching to fasten her securely. She's an angel; you'd think she'd cooperate!
And then there's the music of the season. Songs like I'll be home for Christmas make me ruminate over my family who are living far away. My son's family now lives 5000 km from us, and although we know they are happy in their new home, we miss them. We will have to settle for a Facetime this year.
What Child is This? is a song that makes me ponder the first Christmas day and the special arrival of baby Jesus. This is a memory that brings feelings of wonder and thankfulness. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Nostalgia is not a bad thing. Yes, we may shed a few tears, but Memories are timeless treasures of the heart. Let's embrace them this year as a special Christmas gift of a life lived.
Carol Ford - published author, speaker
I was born on Christmas day and my friends surprised me with a birthday party this year.
A word like poignant comes to mind as I place my Christmas ornaments on the tree. I handle each one with reverence and love. They remind me of my children when they brought home simple crafts and helped spark excitement for the holiday. Some take me back to my own childhood and missing parents and family. Many of them conjure thoughts of other homes or our family excursions to cut down a tree.
The angel I put on the top of my tree gives me trouble every year. She wobbles and tilts till I feel weak from stretching to fasten her securely. She's an angel; you'd think she'd cooperate!
And then there's the music of the season. Songs like I'll be home for Christmas make me ruminate over my family who are living far away. My son's family now lives 5000 km from us, and although we know they are happy in their new home, we miss them. We will have to settle for a Facetime this year.
What Child is This? is a song that makes me ponder the first Christmas day and the special arrival of baby Jesus. This is a memory that brings feelings of wonder and thankfulness. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
Nostalgia is not a bad thing. Yes, we may shed a few tears, but Memories are timeless treasures of the heart. Let's embrace them this year as a special Christmas gift of a life lived.
I was born on Christmas day and my friends surprised me with a birthday party this year.
Carol combines her background as a corporate
trainer and her Christian faith in her writing and speaking. She writes
articles for local newspapers, Christian magazines and on-line webinars. She has two short stories published in the
Hot Apple Cider series - My
Mother’s Gift and My Forever Home 1948.
https://www.amazon.ca/Christmas-Hot-Apple-Cider-Receiving-ebook/dp/B07613SKXJ She is also a co-author of:
As the Ink Flows: Devotions to
Inspire Christian Writers & Speakers
Carol speaks on the topic of her
adoption and birth family reunion, and shares God’s blessings and protection
throughout her life. She loves spending time with her four
grandchildren and lives in Newmarket with her husband Allan.
2 comments:
Ah yes, Carol, I think that nostalgia is a worthy companion for Christmas, and the older we get and with every Christmas that comes around, nostalgic moments can become ever more poignant. I don't think that nostalgia necessarily conflicts with the joy of celebrating our Lord's birth, but I do reckon that both nostalgia and poignancy lend depth to it. ~~+~~
Thanks, Peter, for your comments. We have full snow happening as I write. Turkey is in the oven, because I can't do it all in one day. Blessings. Carol.
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