Christmases of my childhood were spent at the farm. We were the only ones of the 6 families to brave the unheated upstairs rooms where snow would drift inside the windows on the sills. The tree had been cut from the row up by the old farmhouse which was now abandoned. Each spring 5 new trees were planted so there would always be a tree for the future. That morning, the house would fill with 20 grandchildren, 14 adults, lots of food and presents. A time to gather, play, and enjoy one another.
As you celebrate this year, I would encourage you to spend time contemplating the fact that the Word of God was incarnate in a baby. What was that like for Him? What does it mean for us, not as a group, but individually? Take time to read the nativity accounts together.
While we are doing that, let’s not forget—He will return. Matthew 24:36–39 records Jesus saying: “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only. For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying, and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.”
What will it mean for our families, and our communities? What is our role as we await this day and hour?
Our Christmas Day is much different now with just the two of us. Many of those who gathered 60+ years ago are now gone. But one thing has not changed: the emphasis on why we celebrate—Jesus came and was born for us.
Photo © FamVeld/iStock
Nancy Teets - December 19, 2023
Excellent article. I too, gathered with my parents, aunts and uncles, cousins and sister at our grandparents’ farm. There was no tree, no decorations, but the great amounts of food and love made it a very memorable time. I now host those gatherings with lots of decorations and also lots of food and love.
Craig Britton - December 19, 2023
Thank you, Jewel for your wonderful memories expressed in your writing. Simplicity, real care and rejoicing. All gifts from the Savior. Blessed Advent and Christmas to you (two).
Craig Britton
Sandra - December 19, 2023
Com certeza família não toda reunida , engraçado pensar sobre isso agora ,tinha uma época que eu gostava ,porque uma querida por todos em uma familia ,por exemplo a mãe de todos irmãos se foi ,mais quando era viva ,amava festas , aniversário,natal ,ano novo ,casamento , quando um pessoa que conseguha reunir todos se vai , não sei os irmãos não se ajuntam mais ,cada um para um lado ,mesmo porque cada um tem sua família que construí ,mas eu penso que família nossa é todos pais irmãos ,tios ,netos,bisnetos ,porque ela conseguia fazer isso ,reunir todos juntos em volta dela ,a galinha e seus pintinhos ,se foi nunca mais eu vi a união ,Deus ama família reunida, todos juntos é casamento para vida eterna ,hj não são mais unidos ,hj eu falei sobre a minha mãe _vó ,que amo tanto ,quase todos os dias ,eu vinha do trabalho ,se eu não passasse lá ,ela ficava na varanda e me chamava ,nem abana o r.hoje não vai vim aqui ,hj não dá vó , porque horas de conversas,um dia vamos todos ficarmos juntos eu creio em Deus e em Jesus Cristo,o nosso salvador veio morrer por nós,para que tivéssemos vida eterna ,isso aqui é uma passagem que seja feita vontade do senhor Jesus Cristo amém obrigada 🙏
Translation: With certainty, the family is not all together, it’s nice to think about this now, there’s a time that I’ve gone to, because someone loved by everyone in a family, for example, the most beautiful of all was gone, especially when she was alive, she loved celebrations, anniversaries, birth , new year, marriage, when a person who managed to reunite everyone leaves, not one of the brothers does not get together anymore, each one goes one way, just because each one has their family that I built, but I think that our family is in all countries irmãos, uncles, netos, bisnetos, because she managed to do this, reunite everyone together in the next moment, a galinha and her pintinhos, she was never again and I saw a unity, Deus loves family reunited, all together and marriage for eternal life, hj We are not more united, I have fallen in love with my mother, that I love so much, that every day, I come from work, I have not passed away, the work has been done and I have a job, I have not left any time. I was here, I am not here, because we talk for hours, one day we will all live together and believe in God and in Jesus Christ, our Savior has died for us, so that we may have eternal life, this is a passage that is beautiful vontade do senhor Jesus Cristo amém obrigada
Sandra - December 19, 2023
Hj não se reuni todos irmãos mais ,a família cada uma vai para um lado ,os irmãos alguns se reuni , ninguém tem aquela animação ,era lindo , demais,hj se esqueceram a maioria porquê existe natal ,porque hj o foco não é nascimento de Jesus Cristo é outras coisas , não amor ao próximo, não é confraternização é cada um por si e Deus por todos ,enfim Jesus Cristo vive é a luz de nossas vida ,que nunca esquecemos disso ,é amor , união ,caridade , perdão, humildade, bondade é tudo de mais sagrado para comemorarmos em fé e harmonia e em espírito de alegria por mais um natal em sua presença amém 🙏❤️
Translation:
Hj did not meet everyone else, the family each one went to one side, the children met, none of them had that animation, it was cute, moreover, most of them are confused because there is birth, because the focus was not the birth of Jesus Christ is other things, there is no love for the neighbor, there is no fraternization, there is each one for himself, and God is for all, in fact Jesus Christ lives in the light of our lives, that we never forget, there is love, unity, charity, forgiveness, humility Kindness is the most sacred thing so we can commemorate it in faith and harmony and in the spirit of joy for our birth in its loving presence.