Christmas memories, near and far

My family, Mom, Dad and we four kids, had just attended the Stone Church Christmas Eve service. Santa had appeared and passed out paper sacks of goodies. Then he Ho Hoed off into the night. I knew that he wasn’t the real Santa, just a stand-in. Driving home in our Model A Ford, I remember standing up between my mom’s legs and seeing sleigh tracks in the fresh fallen snow of the road. I remember telling my family that it was Santa’s sleigh tracks and he was headed for our house. End of story—I fell asleep on my mom’s lap before we got home.

It was our family’s tradition to open Christmas gifts on Christmas morning. Then living on a farm it was necessary to get up and do chores, feed the livestock and milk the cows, plus have breakfast before opening the gifts. One special morning when brother Tom and I were teenagers we found a brand-new Whizzer motorbike on the back porch.

That motorbike was our education into the world of motorcycles, and we put many miles on it. Accidents were numerous and even a split femur requiring a stainless steel pin in my arm that had to heal fast so I could play football in the fall before my sophomore year. Later sold but like other vehicles I have owned, one I wish I had kept.

One year while stationed in Oklahoma Grannie Annie and out three sub-teenagers decided to spend Christmas in Mexico. I attempted to rent a camper but the dealer convinced me to buy a used motorized smaller camper that he had on hand. The Rio Grande river valley was familiar as I had attended pilot training there. Crossing over the border at Reynosa on Christmas Eve we parked on the street and attended the Cathedral for midnight mass. My wife and daughters covered their heads with hats in respect of the tradition there. Our family was a bit shocked to see a long line of natives shuffling forward on their knees to attend confession before the service started. Seats were mainly filled with adults and children dressed in their finest. Broken window high above let the sounds of fireworks on the streets outside--a minor distraction. We enjoyed the singing of familiar Christmas Carols, in Spanish of course, accompanied by a band playing banjos and violins. The music was familiar but the words so different from the English we knew well. A beautiful chance to rejoice in the wonderful Christian world that we live in.

The next day, we drove south and toured the plains south of the big river. People walking along the road were numerous, and I suspect that they had no autos to drive. I pulled over and offered one young man a ride, which he accepted. When he settled into the front passenger seat, he looked back at my family and spoke of my “coche”. That became the family name for our vehicle which in later years we toured all over our United States. Great memories!

Oh what fun—fun with a spiritual message. Grannie Annie and the old guy attended one of the sessions of the Peace Lutheran Church’s Live Nativity presentations at the County Fairgrounds. Front row seating. An excellent narrator, a nice choir and a large number of appropriately costumed actors, all members of their congregation.

The inn in Bethlehem was represented and the stable where our Savior was born as well. A great part was the number of live animals that came through the settings, mostly led by young kids. The spirit of Gabriel, complete with feathered angel wings, came on a large white horse to visit with Mary. The wise men arrived along with a pair of camels; real live ones, sheep, even a mama with a couple of week-old lambs tagging close by, live rooster chickens, Shetland and miniature horses, goats, and maybe non-typical lamas and heads of cattle that probably didn’t actually exist in Bethlehem at the time of Christ. No problem, impressive to watch and handled by the youth. A great part was that the public, a full house, was invited to intermingle with the actors and get close to the animals after the end of the formal presentation. I am sure that our Lord and Savior would have been proud.

Our local Peace Lutheran Church has presented its Nativity presentation for years, and it grows and becomes better every year. If you have missed it, be sure to go next year. The birth of Christ. It is the reason for the season. God bless and Merry Christmas.

That is the way I saw it.