Bad Christmas Memory #1

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I guess Wednesday is as good a day as any to talk about my worse Christmas experience. It was my first year in college but not my first away from home. I had lived and worked on my own for a few years before I started college. I actually had spent a year attending a small Bible School in England called Capernwray. That year I ended up in a Chalet in Switzerland with some pretty fun people. No complaints there. But, it was the next year that I must describe at this time.

Attending school in England led me to a small Bible College in South Carolina named Columbia Bible College. My home and family were on the other side of the country and I didn't have the funds to get home for the break. A friend of mind said his family offered to allow me to stay with them. I applied at UPS to work for the Christmas season. I bought the shoes and uniform. I packed some reading materials and my sleeping bag and was set. 

After arriving in the lovely home and meeting the family I settled in for the first night. Before I went to sleep by friends mom explained to me that everyone got up at 6:00am for breakfast so that "father' could read the scriptures to us before he went to work. I should of grabbed my bags and tried to hitch hike to California. So, I spent six weeks waking at 6am for grits and the scriptures. If you haven't had grits, just go to a beach, start to run and trip with your mouth open. You can add eggs, cheese, milk, whatever. 

I hoped that working would help, but, as luck with have it, UPS never called and when I called they said it was one of their slowest years ever and had not called anyone extra yet. Now, when I was young you could beat me to within an inch of my life and it was like water of a ducks back. But, put me in a room all by myself for longer than 5 minutes...that was torture! 

Now, my friend was a great guy, a model son. But, his mom rode him like he was a possible life time criminal. Every choice that poor kid made was wrong according to his mom. He couldn't pick out a shirt without enduring some harassment and being ridiculed because blue was obviously better than white on a Tuesday (if I was exaggerating that would be funny). I thought to myself that if this poor kid didn't just snap one day and kill everyone in the house I would be surprised. Two years later he quit school, started dressing all dark and decided he was gay. Mom, probably has no clue she drove him insane. 

That was not a great Christmas. The next year I made sure I made it home. There is no place like home for the holidays.

The Gift of Friendship

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To tell you the truth I don't remember many gifts I have received sense reaching adulthood. What I do remember are the people I have broke bread with and enjoyed their company. Often, due to busy schedules and the ever increasing activities of the modern family (sports, scouts, and homework) we don't always get to see everyone as often as we would like and the holidays seems to be the only time families and friends get together. My best memories are of family and friends, not things.

One year I asked two of my friends, Kenny and Matt, where they were going for Christmas. They both shrugged their shoulders and said, "Nowhere." So, I asked them to come with me. I called my parents and asked them to take a few presents that were for me and write "To Kenny" or "To Matt" on them. My sister once said, "You know, you think your family is messed up until you meet someone elses family or hear their stories." Both my friends didn't enjoy Christmas as kids. Their families were a bit disjointed. Matt and Kenny  joined my family that Christmas. It was very fun to watch their faces when they received a gift with their name on it. They actually were in a state of shock that someone had thought of them in even the smallest way. The next year they joined us again and Kenny had a gift for everyone. Kenny then met a beautiful young lady and had a family and now enjoys Christmas with them each year. 

So, I hope your family enjoys the gift of friendships this Christmas season, because one gift we have been given by our Creator is the gift of friendship.

Yes, Christmas Approaches

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Yes, it is the Holidays. For most everyone I know it can be a very busy and hectic time of year. I love Christmas. I love waking up on Christmas morning to see my children's faces as they check out what might be under the Christmas tree for them. I love stocking stuffers. When I was young, many moons ago, there would always be a tangerine, a comb, a piece of chocolate, and then maybe a Matchbox car or Hot Wheel car. Not a lot, not expense, just something small. We would play with the stocking stuffers until everyone woke up and moms' special Christmas breakfast was ready.

My wife and I have tried to carry on those traditions and add our own. I believe it is most important to remember the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, God in the flesh coming to save his people. So, we always read the Christmas story from the book of Luke.

To me one of the best memories of the holidays is being with family and friends. One friend of mine has a party of year that he ans his family decide to throw and invite everyone with two days notice the week before Christmas. You know, "I don't know if we are going to do it this year..." So, I am anticipating a call in a day or two. It usually is a lot of fun. They regifting game (some call it the Red Elephant game)  is always great because someone always brings one really goofy one and it gets passed around until the end.

I hope your town has a special Christmas lights area. I love seeing how much effort someone else put into their decorating. I always wonder where they keep it all.

I wish you all a great Christmas. Signing off for now,
PTVoice