Reflecting on Christmas Past, Present and Future

By Carol and Larry Smith

When I think about Christmas in the past, my mind instantly goes back to when I was still a child and how magical everything about it seemed.  No matter how much we were struggling, and we always did, Moma never let it look hard.  She was raising six girls after Daddy past.  I was the youngest, so it just felt like everything was taken care of without me knowing the details.  Somehow, a sweet baby doll would appear under the tree and of course a new outfit! We didn’t get a lot of extras but those two were the have to’s. Moma said there are want to’s and have to’s.  The want to’s might happen, but the have to’s must happen!  I can still hear her singing “It’s Christmas Time! It’s Christmas Time!” whenever anyone asked a question concerning gifts.  She overflowed with joy and it was so contagious.

Raising my two children, I carried on my Moma’s love of Christmas.  I cherished the decorations, gift wrapping, and secret keeping of who is getting what (which I never kept).  The most special quality of all was seeing the presence of God in every aspect of our lives.  Every Christmas, God showed up and showed out!! Whether it was a family member knowing what we needed or a church coming in on Christmas Eve and making a tired Moma cry because of their kindness.  There was always a little Christmas miracle around the corner.  When the kids were small they took part in the programs in church.  It blessed my Moma heart to see them singing and acting the parts of Christ birth.  Emmanuel, “God is with us” soaked deep in to my being.  There is no greater memory than to see your child understanding what Christmas really is. 

Today, Christmas seems to have a melancholy feel to it.  Larry and I have been married going on nine years and have always had a childlike joy for the season. This year, we lost his Mother in August.  She had lived with us for two years with dementia and it was rough.  But, we had grown to enjoy and admire her for all the changes she had dealt with.  Moma Faye was a stubborn, feisty little woman and always brought a little surprise to our days.  We found out last November she had cancer but thought she would live to be 100.  At least, she said “I’m too mean to die,” and we believed her!  It was a shock when she was gone in August.  The amazing thing about God, is whenever someone dies someone else is born in their place.  We had our first grandson born in November, about the time we found out about Moma Faye’s cancer.  We had no idea how that little boy was going to fill the void that she was going to leave in our hearts!

Mateo, our adventurous, energetic and loving one year old has brought us joy in ways that we can’t describe.  It is all we can do to spend a day with him. Well, we are not young chickens anymore!  Being able to see the new life in him and watch Mommy and Daddy navigate life with a little walker brings so much laughter and hope in to our world.  We are so thankful for our family.  God knows what we need exactly when we need it! 

And my grown up son is such a blessing to me too.  He lives his life, works and does his thing.  But he will always find the time to check in and let us know he loves us. 

Life today is getting a little simpler, I think.  That is one thing you can’t predict. What may be calm now could be a storm tomorrow.  But one thing I believe God has taught us through all of this is: keeping Him in the center and trusting his hand will always bring us to his perfect peace.

In the future, I pray there will be lots of family gatherings, time spent enjoying life with hubby and moments of knowing “God is with us.”  When I reflect on Christmas past, present and future, I feel the love that has been engrained in me since before I was born.  Our heavenly Father began writing a journal upon my heart, and allowed my Moma and family to continue writing a beautiful story of hope, love and peace that will flow through me and others.  Larry (hubby) has become part of that journey and fits perfectly in God’s plan.  With him, Christmas will be celebrated for the miracle it symbolizes; an amazing Life giving God that graced us with His presence as a man called Jesus.  No matter how your Christmas looks or feels this year, I pray that you will know the precious gift of our Savior who was born in a manger, died on a cross to save a lost world and did it just for you.  God bless us each and every one!

© 2022 by Carol and Larry Smith

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart (Luke 2:19 NIV)

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11 KJV)

For mine eyes have seen thy salvation (Luke 2:30 KJV)