The Gift that Keeps on Giving

It's been a while since I have blogged. Seems I've had a bit of "writers block" and quite frankly way too much white noise in my head to even think clearly, but today God has cleared my mind and put some things on my heart to share with you.

Today marks the 15th anniversary of the day that my Mom died from breast cancer.  This will be the 15th Christmas with out her and the 33rd Christmas without my Dad.  After all these years, I still find myself missing both of them like it just happened yesterday. As I pulled out the Christmas decorations and holiday recipes, my heart was flooded with memories of past Christmases. I remembered my Dad, hoisting me up to put the star on top of the tree and laying on the floor playing Tiddley Winks with me. I could smell the sugar cookies baking in the oven and hear my Mom's sweet voice singing Christmas carols as she rolled out the dough. I remembered the excitement I felt as I read the note that Santa left next to the cookies and milk we left him and I could see the smiles on my parent's faces as they opened the hand-made macaroni covered Christmas tree I made in school.

Ahhh yes, the memories and although there were tears, I found myself smiling. See, although their is sorrow in missing the ones we love, there is joy in the memories we hold dear in our hearts. These memories have the ability to turn tears to laughter and sorrow to happiness.  For instance, my sister just called me to say she loved me, and we both started to cry as we talked about what today meant, but just a few minutes later we were laughing as we remembered the hand sewn, matching quilted skirts our Mom had made us one Christmas back in 1977. Awful, just awful, but the memory was beautiful!

I'm certain I am not the only one missing a loved one this Christmas. Whether you have lost a friend, a parent, a sibling or a child, the sorrow is there; and while there won't be a present to open from them under the tree, there is a gift in your heart to be opened.  The package is beautifully wrapped in red foil paper, with a shiney, silver bow and the tag reads, "To: You With Love Our Memories". It's the gift that keeps on giving.  So tear open that package with the excitement of a child and smile through tears of joy as we all remember with laughter the ones we love.

May your Christmas be full of joy and may the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ bless you and your families.
Until next time...(Mommy what were you thinking with those skirts! LOL)
God bless and Merry Christmas,
Cat