The holidays are a time where you wax just a tad sentimental. The traditions and habits you had are a do- over as each season rounds and no matter how many times you have seen Bing Crosby sing "White Christmas" or watched Clarence get his wings on "Its a wonderful life" or in the movie " A Christmas Story" You rejoiced that the tacky leg lamp got broken and the kid got his trusty red rider b b gun, ( and as well did indeed nearly put his eye out) or have seen yet once more how that poor little Charlie Brown relished his straggly limb of a Christmas tree, still after the millionth time,you add it to your MUST Do lists for the following year.
I don't know why tradition holds us so much, but there is both beauty and pain in it- when you are forced to leave some of it behind due to a divorce or loss of a family member, or when you have moved many thousands of miles away from your children and loved ones part of those things nearly sacred -morph, and though you still watch a movie or two, still bake eggnog cookies and still make up a batch of ginger bread waffles without those smiling faces surrounding you it takes on a less fulfilling air.Tradition is something that doesn't necessarily fade then but because time marches on the traditions we have do change with the times.
I remember when my children were small, (Anjoli was about 9 I believe, Steven was then about 6 and Ben a feisty 4 year old boy) the kids were not as chipper and were moping more about the house, because there father was working over seas during the Christmas holiday. But what they did not know is that he was due to come home just two days before Christmas Eve, and because it was so close we had planned a wonderful surprise that included a little mangling of truth to keep inquisitive minds from being in the know.
Now I am not big on Santa, being a Christian I have only emphasized the Lord as being what Christmas was about but the kids knew of Santa, and since he gave out Candy canes in the mall they weren't opposed to running into him. The plan unfolded... we winded down a snowy mountain, commenting on the beauty of the hills, and excited about the break from being snowbound.
I bought the kids a treat, and made the excuse of dropping off a bag of bedding I had said I was returning for a friend in the mall. So I planted them in a nearbye eatery, told them to stay put, and I would return in a minute to do something fun. A quickly as possible I turned the corner, and dissapeared into a hotel linked to the mall, passing a waiting husband my bag of Goods.
I took a econd to explain that there was also candycanes in the "Bedding" bag which was really his Santa gear. "Candy canes ?" he asked, *"Dave," I said sarcastically, "You can't go in the mall dressed as Santa and not hand out Candy canes, what will the little kids think?" "Oh.. Good thinking" he replied... The clerks at the reception counter grinned from ear to ear, watching the plan unfold. I turned and ran back into the connecting Mall, afraid to leave the kids for very long.
We walked around the mall looking at odds and ends, oohing and ahhing at toys and treats, and the beautiful decorations, when at last Santa arrived. I laughed to myself, because he had put on the costume, but had neglected getting a pillow or some means of fluffing himself, and was the scrawniest Santa I do believe I have ever seen, but , the kids didn't notice that, I believe their stares were on the sack laden with candy canes, as "Santa " greeted them.
He spoke in a makeshift voice and held out his hands as though to enclose them in an embrace . For a moment they all studied Him, until finally little Ben ran and gave him a hug in warm reception , Steven was a bit more shy and felt a little more reserved, being to grown up and all for Santa, but even so he didn't want to be rude either so he finally conceded to a side ward hug and a nod.
Anjoli was neither cautious nor reserved she just stepped forward dutifully and listened to what Santa was saying as he leaned in slightly sidewards for a hug, just around the shoulders, with a slight crunch.. something about that jolted her.. Anjoli looked up into the eyes fluffed in gossamer and stood staring into the face swathed in a beard lost in tufts of white-and said,"Dad?" in awe and shock..within moments, hugs were warmly abounding and joyful squeals bubbling out of my children's mouths. What a wonderful surprise! What a sweet Christmas memory, something my children will recall all their lives I am sure.
As I thought of this memory over the holidays I considered this a story that goes beyond simply a happy memory, it to is a tradition. How so,? Well beloved, whenever you celebrate the Love of God, whenever you lean into his warmth with a smile of recognition, whenever you realize that your daddy is there for you when you least expected him to be God almighty does indeed hold you. Whenever you feel the closeness of his love and the peace of his heart the holiday , rekindles.
God holds you beloved in a way recognizable to your spirit- you may not recognize his means , but you will recognize his touch. In that just right needed moment- in that hour when you need to feel him most, he will lean down scrunch your shoulders, and let you know in some way discernable to only you and He, Your loving Father is near.
Be blessed, be Scrunched in the arms of God, be Merry.....
* Fictional name
