THE
LORD'S POET
CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: 
SHARE MINE-------------FIND YOURS 
LINDA
I
had a dear friend years ago. We were very close, but we had a problem,
of sorts: it seemed as if each year, no matter what gift I made her
for Christmas, she bought me a gift that was similar. The year I made candies,
she gave me a Whitman Sampler; when I made cookies, she gave me cookies
from the local bakery; I made her a set of glasses from soda bottles the
year she bought me a set of glasses. Another year we exchanged homemade
cookies. We only had those four Christmases as she's gone now, but I wonder
how many Christmases would have passed before we hit one with dissimilar
gifts!
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BOBBY
During
my junior and senior years of high school, my very best friend was a boy
(?!) named Bobby. We were very close, sharing the pain and sorrow
as easily as the joys, hopes and our dreams. One day, Bobby saved my life
just by being my friend (that's a long story and not such a good memory,
but he DID save me from death one summer night).
Bobby
was an artist. He did lovely sketches. He was also from a single parent
family, so there was seldom finances for proper art supplies. My senior
year I had a small excess of funds near Christmas. With the help of an
art teacher at school, I purchased a sketch pad and proper tools for Bobby
for Christmas. He was so touched by my consideration that he gave me a
locket for Christmas. But it wasn't just any locket, this locket had been
given to him by his grandmother to be given to his first girlfriend. I
knew about the locket (that was one of the secrets we'd shared). I was
deeply touched by his sacrifice, especially since I knew who he'd been
saving it for (another secret shared). That locket has remained my most
treasured possession and is a constant reminder of Bobby's friendship and
God's abiding love for me.
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CHRISTMAS,
1991
The
first thing I need to share here is that Christmas was seldom a happy time
for me. I dreaded it coming and wished I could wipe it off the calendar.
Many things happened in 1991 and by mid October I was actually looking
forward to Christmas with joy and excitement. For Christmas that year,
I received many nice gifts: roses galore, chocolate covered cherries, cookies,
jewelry. But I discovered three very special gifts among those I opened
that Christmas Day. One made me cry, one made me laugh and one continues
to bring hours of pleasure.
A
set of glass bells hanging from a brass ornament brought the tears. It
is a lovely ornament that is also a windchime. It wasn't the beauty of
the gift, the cost or even the thoughtfulness of the giver that caused
those tears. Rather, the words minutely engraved in petite, precise letters
across one side of the brass ornament were the culprit. There, in careful
script were the words, "Kathi's first real Christmas-1991."
A
daily calendar is responsible for the laughter. The spiral bound, stand
up calendar has one page for each day. Each sheet contains both a prayer
and a thought for the day. Many of the thoughts are absolutely outrageous!
Since the calendar only gives month and date, this is a gift that will
serve to draw my attention ever to God while it also brings tears of laughter
for many years to come.
The
third gift is a simple child's toy that will supply hours of pleasure to
a child who has never grown up: me!
It's
nothing fancy nor was it very expensive but. . . it is something that has
always fascinated me and thrilled me: a kaleidoscope! And penned on the
side is a very apt poem that will serve to keep my mind centered on the
Light as my eye is focused on the light filtered throught the lens of the
kaleidoscope.
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CHRISTMAS,
1990
Due
to financial difficulties in 1990, I decided to bake and sell my cookies
at Christmas. I received many orders. I laid in the necessary supplies
and began to bake on Thanksgiving. My total baking that year was about
150 dozen cookies. That's nearly two thousand cookies! So what did I receive
from my secret prayer partner? Right! Homemade cookies! The folks at church
hoped I would give them all away since I'd been overwhelmed by cookies,
but did I? NO!! Oh, I shared a few, but most I ate myself. After all, I'd
made two thousand cookies and had not been able to eat even one because
they'd been baked to order. That was punishment for a crime not committed!
I think a little selfishness was justified that year!
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WINDOWS
TO CHRISTMAS
As
Christmas comes
I
see vignettes
Of
memories
I
won't forget.
So
many scenes
Now
framed in time
Of
windows to
Past
Christmas, mine;
Also
of scenes
That
have not come
Of
Christmases
That
will be fun
As
I look through
To
a future time,
Of
memories
That
will be mine.
Kathi Phillips
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