This is my Christmas.......

Christmas dates back as early as 98AD when Rome declared the birth of Christ be celebrated as a time of feast. While no one knew the exact date in which Christ was born, there were several pagan festivals that occurred around December 25th and this date was chosen.

In Colonial America there were very few Christmas celebrations. In fact, as recent as 100 years ago Christmas was declared illegal in parts of the United States, including New England, as devout Christians still considered the celebration of the Christmas holiday as a pagan ritual and in reproach to Christ. In fact, it wasn't until after the American Civil War that Christmas truly became popular nationally. The country used to be as divided about Christmas as it was about slavery. Christmas being very popular in the south and not as popular in the north. I guess that's why I've had a romantic love for the south.....

The first American States to declare Christmas a legal holiday were Alabama in 1836 and Louisiana and Arkansas in 1838...relatively recent historically. It wasn't declared a federal holiday until 1870.

Christmas became "commercialized" with the emergence of Women's Magazines...believe it or not. In fact, it was America that "reinvented" Christmas because prior to this the holiday was a raucous drunken holiday, whereas women' magazines turned it into a celebration of family, love, peace and "making childhood memories". So we have Women's Day and such to thank for that, ironically.

I have been very fortunate. I had a wonderful childhood with loving parents, good friends, a big family---who gathered on holidays. I remember my Mom Mom Pearl's huge tree in her living room that glowed with tinsel and lights. Each package was carefully wrapped and exquisitely decorated---and the presents were always piled high. Goodies abounded on the counters---fudge, cookies, cakes, and punch.

Even in the hardest financial times I always tried to make Christmas very special for my children in honor of the memories I had from my own childhood. It is very difficult for me, in this time of financial woe to not be able to load the car down with gifts for everyone I love. I am having to go back to basics...and find joy in the little things in life.

Everyone in all walks of life is feeling the strain right now. Nationally and even globally we are facing uncertain times like we haven't seen in recent history. A lot of this is our own doing---as greed and taking our eye off Christ has brought us here.

So while I won't have a pile of presents under the tree this year---I am thankful that I have my mother who is also my best friend. I traumatize her daily because she worries about me---and I am grateful for her worry because without her---I would be lost. I am thankful for my three daughters who have grown in to beautiful young women who make me proud every day of my life. I am thankful for my grandsons who keep me in touch with my "child within"--and help me reconnect with my own wonderful childhood memories. I am thankful for lifelong friendship from several people in my life who have stood by me for fifty years--even when I was not worthy of that friendship---as I am human--and in my humanity--I am flawed.

I am thankful for my very special new-found love, Danny who makes me smile--laugh--and fills each day with a joy for the future.

And most of all I am thankful for Christ---who came and walked among us so that we could see, by example, how we should treat one another. I am thankful for a loving, forgiving, and compassionate God who has loved me unconditionally---who has taken me back into his loving embrace even after I ignored him for years.

So on this Christmas Day....presents will still be abundant...they just might not be in shiny packages with bows and tinsel....they will be in the loving hearts that gather around me...they will be in the glistening eyes of my grandchildren as they laugh and play raucously about the room...they will be in seeing my mother smile when I know her heart is broken in missing my father.....they will be in the soft touch of the love of my life.....

And I bow in such esteemed gratitude to my Lord and Savior for these gifts........

Merry Christmas to all of you.....

Debby