Christmas Memories
Are you wishing Christmas would never come? Would you like to talk to someone about your dread of the Christmas Season?
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The other day I met a friend at the mall for lunch. After lunch, we strolled through several stores admiring the beautiful Christmas decorations. The mall was very festive with the music and sparkling glitter of the season. Together we shared some of our childhood memories. I shared with her my memory as a young girl shopping with my parents in our city and hearing the Christmas music over the loudspeakers.
As we were admiring the beautiful tree ornaments for sale in one store, she said, “Sometimes I think it would be nice to get all new tree ornaments, but the new ones wouldn’t have memories.” I agreed with her. Each year, as I get out the tree ornaments, I have happy memories from the past. I find the salt dough angels and snowmen I painted with my sons about 35 years ago. The four angel ornaments one of my sons received remind me of when he was a special character in a Christmas production. Each ornament represents a person, a place, or a time. The ornaments on our trees give nostalgic reminders of cherished memories.
Feeling overwhelmed by the stress of the season?: Let us pray for you
Carols of Christmas: Take a Life Lesson
What kind of memories do you recall during the Christmas season? Are they about the warm and cozy family times you shared, baking cookies with your grandmother … or are they of the conflicts you experienced? Often people dread their family gatherings because of negative memories. We read in Proverbs 10:7 “The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot.” As we walk with the Lord and invest in our relationship with Him, we will be demonstrating to others that He is our refuge and strength and our help in times of trouble. Our family and friends will remember what they see in the way we live our lives.
During this Christmas season, ask yourself, “What kind of memory would God want me to leave with those whom I come in contact with? What kind of a Christmas legacy am I leaving with my family?” One of the greatest gifts we can give our family and friends are the memories of how we love and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lord, show me practical ways in which I can leave the memory of a woman who loves and obeys the Lord and who attracts others to Him. Help me to be mindful of what memories I am making with others this Christmas. Amen.
Share a special Christmas memory with others on the blog.
Questions: What kind of memory would you like to leave with others? Perhaps you would like to initiate a new heart – warming memory this Christmas, what would you like that to be?
About this Author Lillian Penner
Daily audio podcast: A second daily devotional, Security for the Children, today on the Men’s Devotional Blog
Tags: Christmas, conflicts, decorations, Family, festive, gatherings, gifts, Legacy, Memories, negative memories, ornaments
24 Responses to “Christmas Memories”
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Kanj,
Thank you for sharing your memories. What a beautiful story. Isn’t it wonderful to see the Lord’s Hand on us..even when we didn’t know Him?
Oh what a Savior!
lillian,
God bless us all this Christmas(and you’re an inspiration to us as well).
kanj
Kanji, Thanks for sharing your inspiring story. Isn’t is wonderful to know how God met your need through others.
God bless your Christmas.
Lillian, thank you so much for this devotional. when i was growing up the memories I had pretty much till I was around 10yrs old or so were of total strangers delivering off a big box a day or two before Christmas. and in this box was the most wonderful fixins for a full Christmas dinner. I assumed that all the houses in the neighbor got the same delivery. and in that box would be a turkey, canned vegies, powdered milk, packaged jello and candy canes. some years it would vary as far as the treat went but there was always a treat there. as I had 8 siblings and only my mom(single parent but not by choice), I just assumed that because I was good all year round, this was my/our reward. turned out that an older sibling decided to spill the beans and tell me that we were on assistance and that our mom had no choice but to accept charity. funny(not ha ha funny) but I looked at it as the act of total strangers helping out a single mom with lots of kids. so kindness of a stranger was the norm growing up. I don’t ever remember being without either at Christmas. i, too, grew up in a secular atmosphere but there was something there that told me I was missing something more at Christmas time. it only took me another 40 years to find out the real joy and celebration that dec. 25 brings.
Doris, while it is true that there have been a few ‘spirited discussions’ on this blogsite over theology and/or doctrine, most of these spiritual entanglements might have been averted had there been earlier intercession by CWT staff. Presuming that CWT staff oversees and monitors the blogsite, when faulty theology prompts debate, it seems reasonable to expect that one of the staff members would clarify and/or correct the misrepresentation. As CWT has each bloggers’ email in their database, this clarification could be done privately, so as not to publicly embarrass the individual. I find it very unusual that a blogger could be harrassed by email, and I stand by my statement that one can prevent such occurrences by blocking specific senders as necessary, or changing one’s email address altogether. While I am sorry that a few of your bloggers have experienced misfortune in exchanging email/personal information, that someone would request you to ‘enforce’ restrictions on others due to her own unfortunate experience seems a bit overreactive. It might, instead, produce caution, and warrant reminders of the risks involved. But, as adults, capable of determining appropriate safety measures, your bloggers deserve the respect of deciding for themselves whether or not exchanging personal email addresses is a reasonable option. CWT does a wonderful job, and we are blessed by your ministry! God bless!
I am happy to share that memory. I must say tho, that only because of the ministry here of women who write for this devotional site and those who comment, that I can share this today.
I must be very truthful. When I found this site and went to the blog, I was in search of something even more than the wonderful devotions here. I was in a fight for my life.
Marilyn, had it not been for Linda and you, I would not be here today. God had you both here that day and I thank God for this site. I praise Him for you ladies who minister and write here, but it was the personal touch of some of you, that truly kept me from taking my life. You understood where I was and where I was coming from as well as where I was headed.
I know Christian Women has a wonderful mentor site, but that wasn’t where I was at the time. My prayer is to see us again ministering to one another and being ministered to again…even if it means straying from the devotional from time to time.
Dear Jesus,
Thank You for this wonderful site. Minister to each of us in love. When someone comes here in need, we ask You to provide here. Some might need an ear, and Lord, may we hear, one might need encouragement, and we ask that we might be that… through the power of the Holy Spirit living in us. Guide us Lord..use us, as we seek Your Face. Where there is loneliness, let us befriend and where there is confusion, give us direction to minister. May we continue to minister and pray for one another as we seek Your Face.
In Jesus Name….
Patti, your memory and story of the family that had very little which your family was able to help triggered a memory in my stroked out brain.
There was a flood and the high water was in town and in our renters home, so our renters needed a home Christmas eve. They came to our house with no Christmas presents, but with little children. My younger sister and I stayed up late into the night making things for the young ones to open up on Christmas morning. My folks also put together presents for them to open. You triggered a memory of this family and the mother in tears Christmas morning, thanking our family. She shared she had told the children there would not be a Christmas this year.
The little children were excited opening their little presents that Christmas morning. It was a special Christmas.
Thanks for your comments Marilyn. I know that I have already responded to your personal email as well but since you posted some of the same issues here, I thought it might helpful for everyone to hear the answers.
The blog is here to minister to our readers….not to meet the needs of our staff. Our staff have many other avenues of caring and ministering to one another.
The reason that we asked to limit the discussion to the main focus of the article and caring for one another is because on some earlier posts, discussions evolved that became argumentative and we wanted to avoid that happening again. We felt that using the terms ‘caring for one another’ would give all of you lots of room to share and pray for one another which is what we want to see happen here on the blog. And we agree that sometimes caring for one another is definitely out of the box which is totally fine!
As for sharing emails, we do understand how that has led to deeper ministry which is such a blessing. However at the same time, we have had visitors who have ended up being harassed by people they met here on the site and in several instances, others have gotten into inappropriate relationships as a result. We were actually asked by several of these visitors to please enforce the no personal information shared.
We are looking at some options that we could possibly provide for personal interaction so for the time, please continue to share, care and pray for one another here……and be Jesus with skin on to other women from around the world.
Blessings to each of you that reads and encourages others here.
What a great encouragement Patti….that if you don’t have a memory, then make a memory by helping someone else. The memory of that Christmas continues to bless our family each year.’
goodness, Linda, you mustn’t leave, and CWT staff ought to do what they can to retain your presence here on this blogsite!! You have been a faithful blogger here on this devotional site, offering the love of Jesus to all who come with broken spirits and crumbled lives! He has used you abundantly here to minister to His hurting and/or confused daughters, many of whom are experiencing some of the trials that our Lord walked and comforted you through! Sharing email addresses is not unsafe, as one can easily block senders, or change email addresses. That you have offered to further your ministry to those here by sharing your email address has been a very loving sacrifice! Clearly, many women have found your gentle and encouraging spirit a balm to their wounded hearts, as you have been blessed with so many responses! My question to CWT staff is, is this blog designed to meet the needs of your staff, or the needs of your readers? You advise the bloggers to “limit the discussion to the main focus of the article and to caring for one another.” Sometimes, ‘caring for one another’ takes us outside the box. Some have shared their email addresses on the blog for the benefit of furthering their personal ministry to a sister who has expressed a need for comfort and encouragement. This allows loving attention to be given to a specific individual, without the appearance of exclusivity with extended blog entries. CWT offers one-on-one mentoring to their readers; however, not all bloggers choose to enter into that relationship. Therefore, God uses the mature Christian women on this blogsite as partners in ministry with you, to reach those whom He so ordains! I hope that you will reconsider your restrictions, trusting our Lord for His protection for His daughters in the ministry to which He has called them!
As I have reflected on past Christmases, I remember a particular one that was the most memorable Christmas for our family. I worked for the school district and our daughters were in early elementary school. One of the teachers came in one day talking about a needy family. I was happy to know there was a girl in the family, a year or so younger than our girls. The next day, I carried in several boxes of clothes our girls had outgrown.
The next Sunday, the pastor introduced me to a lady who was visiting our Sunday School Class. I noticed she had no coat on that cold winter morning and sensed she was in need. She and her children had come to church on the bus. I couldn’t get her off my mind, so during the week, I called the pastor to inquire of the woman, where they lived and if there was a need. He told me that he had intentionally brought her into our class and seated her next to me….and yes, there was a great need. She had two children and a husband without a car or job.
The pastor gave me an address, but proceeded to tell me that I must find that address and then go behind that house to find where she and her family lived. I found the address and saw something not much more than a shack behind the house. I had our two daughters with me and talked to them about being quiet as I visited with the mother. To make a long story short, her little girl answered the door with a big smile and invited us inside. My little daughters and I were speechless, as the little girl was wearing one of my daughters gowns and warm socks.
For us, this was the most precious Christmas we remember. God gave us the privilege of seeing what He can do with just a little effort. We were able to, as a family, minister in a very tangible way. The family never knew that the clothes the teacher had given to them, were our girls outgrown clothes. What a joy it was that year, to go as a family, shopping for food and toys for the children…. To see the joy of receiving simple necessities such as underwear for the children, a coat for the mother and things we take for granted such as toiletries and snacks.
I remember helping her put away the groceries and upon opening the refrigerator, seeing only a turkey carcass. No milk for the children…just nothing. There was the little son, Danny. I asked him what he wanted or would like for me to bring him when I came again. The little guy said…a belt.
This family was a gift to my family and I found generous people in the church who joined us in continuing to meet their needs and ultimately finding a job for the father. It has been years since that family touched our lives, but it is going to be something…a memory to share this Christmas as we come together to celebrate our Savior’s birth.
I realize this is lengthy and I could not even say all I would like to…but most of us, if we look just a bit beyond ourselves, we can find someone to help…not just at Christmas either. We can always give something, if even if is our time that some lonely soul needs, an ear to listen or a hug one cherishes. As I think of how thankful I am, I find my heart going back to that time. If you don’t have a memory, then make a memory by helping someone else. The memory of that Christmas continues to bless our family each year.
Thank you so much ladies for sharing here on the blog, both the encouraging thoughts, Christmas memories and also your frustrations with some of our technical issues and our new blog guidelines.
Our concern is your safety, not limiting interaction. So please feel free to share prayer requests and by all means pray for one another.
If you want to connect with a specific person, do take the time to email our site and we will endeavor to connect you through our Mentor Center.
In the meantime, don’t leave….and by all means ask friends to come back and comment! We are listening.
Thank you, Lillian. We sent a package of sugar cookie mix with some Christmas cookie cutters one day this December. (THey haven’t opened them up yet. I think they get them on Saturday.)
Our grandchildren are 4 and 2 (well, she will be 2 on the 14th of December). I would like ideas for next year (we have already completed this year) to do little inexpensive gifts for each day up to Christmas. Instead of an Advent calendar, they receive Advent gifts. Our son said they are so excited and look forward to the next day. Next year I would like more message about Christ in each Advent gift.
Hey! I just remembered I have the next few ones to wrap up. I still and get a cake mix and frosting and decorations for a birthday cake for Jesus. I am still able to do it for this year. Wonderful! thank you, ladies for the great idea. We can start this tradition with our grandkids. They will love it!
Judy, I like you idea for long distance Christmas grandparenting of sending the grandchildren a cake mix and even add the frosting for them to bake a cake for Jesus birthday.
Linda, my dear dear friend, don’t you dare leave us. Yes, comments are down and I agree that it may have something to do with the site technical problems. But in some cases it may be that some of us are serving God and our families and commenting may not be something that we can do on a regular basis. Please stay with us Linda…I myself value your comments and your prayers for our family and I know that others do too. I agree with Judy….safety is of great importance but we do want to build community and sisterhood here . I don’t have any answers to this but we certainly could commit this to God in prayer and His leading. Praying that these devotionals would encourage each one to connect with others by commenting and praying as needed. Love to you all from Australia, Donna
Hi, Thank you Judy you are much too kind, but I have to say that yes I truly feel God has opened up a door of Ministry here for me. I just finished counting and I have met and have email addresses for 26 ladies since Oct/07, I have gone through a lot in my life and it was for a reason which I believe was to be able to share, encourage, pray for and love other with the Love of Jesus Christ. Sure you can share to a point on this site but when someone writes in and say they just lost a teenage son or daughter in a car accident , or there husband passed away well that hits home as I have too have experienced both those loses at different times, or if someone says they are so depressed and have or tried to commit suicide even though I am not proud of it I have bipolar depression and have tried to commit suicide several times too but by the Grace of God with prayer and medication I am doing Fantastic and on and on it goes. In those circumstances it is nice to take the step and put yourself out there and say here is my email address if you would like to email me I would love to email you back then the ball is in their court. If it doesn’t work out they can just stop emailing you or vise versa or one could block a persons email address if it came to that which I have never done. So Darren I guess I feel the guidelines have a part in the lack of commenting because people can’t connect with one another anymore if they want to. I agree the technical problems are also partly to blame but we were like a family and we were able to talk to interact with each other on line, we always welcomed new people, people came on and asked for prayer, when you were on line you were missed and now, well it just seems like before you can even comment, you have to read this “set of Rules” each time and it doesn’t seem so Friendly.
To answer the question of this devotional my favorite memory of Christmas was doing the Advent candles with our children when they were small, reading the scripture, praying and then all of us trying to sing. I was always such a wonderful time together and they looked forward to it each year! Hugs, Linda
I came on to the blog a year ago. I had been reading the devotions, but wasn’t at that time, looking at comments. The first time I wrote on the blog, I was confused about a scripture. I made one comment and several women wrote …giving their time to answer my question. I was very confused at that time and had many questions. One question led to another and the way I was ministered to was wonderful. It was the love of the women here that kept me coming back.
I was at a point in my life that if some had not been here to minister to me, I would not be here today. Fortunately, at that time, there were several who gave me their email addresses, and we became even closer…ministering to each other as well as ministering as a team when someone new would write in about something in their lives. There were and I believe still are many hurting women, who come here to ask questions and be ministered. For many, this is their only connection with Christian women….and maybe the only connection in hearing the Word.
Over the past year, we have shared with one another, prayed for one another and even connected beyond this devotional blog. I believe this devotional blog has been a ministry to do just these things and to share the Word. There were times that some would come here and try to promote a feel good New Age theory. In love, those here would share the Word…the Truth, which will never come back void. I believe the Lord does not want His Word, His salvation to be watered down to a feel good philosophy, where we can venture from the Word and still go to Heaven. I believe we, as believers are to minister and point the way to salvation, thru Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ only.
We have shared prayer requests and had the privilege to pray for one another and have seen emotional and physical healing come from our corporate prayer. It was wonderful and what an encouragement we have been to each other.
Now, we are not to comment except on the subject of the devotional. How very sad that what was a ministry thru not only the writers of the devotions, but thru being able to connect woman to woman in our every day trials.
I wrote Truth Media about this and received a prompt response back….stating that it is best that we do not give out any information and not to stray from the devotion. From that time on, I have seen less commenting on the blog and practically no woman to woman ministering.
I do not think that there is anything wrong with giving out e-mail addresses. We aren’t giving out our phone numbers and living addresses…but I have been ministered beyond this this devotional blog….thru getting to know some of these women. The ministry here is an open door to share Jesus…a very personal Jesus and what a wonderful opportunity to be an ear to a hurting heart..and to be used by the Holy Spirit to, perhaps minister more personally.
I have noticed many many woman no longer share here. I remember when there were at least 15 or 20 that ministered regularly. Sometimes there was some debate or differences in the way one interprets scripture and that was ok too. It helped me to read and search the scriptures and apply it to my life. The Word stands on it’s own…and without compromise.
I pray that we will see more women come to and come back to the blog….that we will be able to discuss the devotion as well as share our prayer request and pray for each other. I am thankful for those who write here….who are Holy Spirit led and have created a place as this. May God bless this blog, all who come here to minister and be ministered.
Patti, I enjoyed reading your memories with your girls making the birthday cake for Jesus and how they have carried it on with their own families. And Lillian, you did it with your family,to. How special!
Don’t go away, Linda. You are needed here. You have a heart for the people. You welcome new people and are such a prayer warrior for everyone.
Darren, I agree, the technological issues has caused a lot of slow downs. It has caused me to not venture forth too often to the comment section.
Did you hear what Linda wrote, about the friends she has made because she shared her email address with ladies on the blog? The new”rules” prohibits that. Perhaps you can suggest that they not give out phone numbers. I can understand that. What if they want to contact someone and help them? How do you suggest they do that if they are not allowed to give an email address? Safety is an issue. You want everyone safe. Now let’s figure out how we can help someone if an email address is not allowed. Linda helps people and has created a lot of friends through doing so. Put your thinking cap on. This is the big issue Linda is talking about.
My memory of Christmas is the daily Advent gifts we give our grandkids. We did it with our kids when they were little and are now doing it with our grandchildren. We live in different cities, but have heard they look forward to it. I have been wondering how to make it more biblical next year since they will be older and then I read the devotional which naturally spoke to my heart .. . confirming my idea. I could even put a cake mix in as a daily little gift to make a birthday cake for Jesus.
I’m open for other ideas. I write them down for next year!
Hi Linda, we never edit peoples’ comments (unless they are spam or overtly offensive in some way, which yours certainly is not) but I edited your first comment just now to hopefully fix it … it looks like all of the info was there, it just got pasted in weirdly somehow. If it’s still not correct please let me know.
I was wondering also how you see the devotional comment guidelines affecting the amount of comments here? Unfortunately the comments here do seem to be down, and part of that is likely due to the ongoing technical problems that occurred a few months ago.
I am sorry for the way my messages came through for some reason they got switched around and sentences left out etc. Please forgive me I guess they were trying to edit what I wrote. I guess it is time for me to move on to a new site if I cannot freely say what I want to say and I am not hurting or slandering anyone.
Hugs Linda!!!
I am not sure why my whole comment was not printed but this is what is missing
I said: Lillian you ask us to Share a special Christmas memory with others on the blog and I said that one of my most special memories was last Christmas when all the ladies shared their own traditions that they did each Christmas with their families. But now unforturnately there are hardly any ladies writing on the blod
Lillian you said to Share a special Christmas memory with others on the blog, well you know one of my most memorable Christmas memories is last Christmas when there were so many ladies writing on the blog and they all shared their different traditions they did at Christmas with their families. The blog at that time had so many ladies on it and we were like one big family and now it is so sad as there are very few people who write on here anymore and a lot of that has happened since you have put up your Devotional Guidelines which I feel are really sad to see as I for one have made lots and lots of wonderful friends through this blog site but now because of your rules I will never be able to make another new friend and I think it has driven people away. Needless to say You only had Patti comment today which is pretty sad as far as I am concerned. Hugs, Linda !!!
Patti,
That is an excellent idea. I did that with my boys when they were growing up and I always have a birthday cake for Jesus for the little ones when we have our Christmas dinner. It is a wonderful way to teach children about Jesus birthday. Thanks
As a child growing up, Christmas was just a secular holiday in our family. When I married and had children of my own, I wanted to do something really special, that would focus on the true meaning of Christmas.
Every Christmas, when our little girls were old enough, we baked a cake. They would write with icing “Happy Birthday Jesus” and put a candle on it. I remember their excitement as they would decorate the cake with special things for Jesus. It wasn’t a beautiful cake, but was made with their little hands. Then before we opened any presents, the story of Jesus’s birth was read from the Bible…..the candle lit and everyone sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.
Today, our daughters have children of their own and have carried on the tradition of baking a birthday cake for Jesus.