I awoke early Christmas morning, being careful not to waken my sisters and went to the living room. I checked out the presents that lay scattered beneath the tree, touched each of the ornaments and found a clump of tinsel that I slowly spread out.
The day before, we had gone with Dad to select the tree, a live one that he could plant in the yard after Christmas. Mom found a large bucket and filled it with water. My brother and Dad maneuvered the tree into the house and put it into the bucket. We all helped to stretch the lights, replacing the burnt out bulbs.
Jeemes and Dad strung the lights while my sisters and I waited patiently…well, not so patiently. Finally Mom brought out the ornaments which included four beautiful, fragile white and gold eight inch balls that Mom bought for her first Christmas with Dad. The original set included twelve ornaments but over the years our young hands broke them one by one.
Then came the tinsel. I hated hanging tinsel, one boring strand at a time, it took forever. I accelerated the hanging of tinsel to two strands at a time, then three and finally just threw clumps at the tree…always towards the back so Mom wouldn’t see.
Chilled, I heard the furnace come on and went to sit on the air vent. I enjoyed the lights of the tree, their multi-colored glow reflecting throughout the dark room. The picture Mom had painted on the window caught some of the early morning light, a nativity scene where Jesus slept on the hay surrounded by several sheep, a donkey and a cow.
The wonder of Christmas permeated my spirit, warming my insides just as the furnace warmed my hands and feet. I reveled in the time of peace, before everyone awoke and chaos erupted.
I miss that time of calm early Christmas morning. When did I get so busy doing Christmas that I lost the wonder?
When my kids were home, I stayed up late getting ready for Christmas morning. I got out of the habit of resting in the quiet of the morning.
Don’t get me wrong, I love the Christmas season; the carols, the decorations the friends, the baking, and the shopping…but sometimes I get so trapped in the wrapping that I forget the awe of the Gift.
O God, thou art my God: early will I seek thee: my soul thirsts for thee in a dry and thirsty land where no water is; To see thy power and thy glory, so as I have seen thee in the sanctuary.
Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee, thus will I bless thee while I live:
I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips when I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Psalm 63:1-6 KJV
TRICIA LATHROP 