Christmas For The Child

What do you remember most about Christmas when you were a child? Was it Christmas Eve with all the anticipation of how many gifts just for you from Santa would be in a neat pile, thinking he really DID read my list. As you were trying to force yourself to get to sleep you realized that letters to Santa really DO matter. Does the aroma of all the home made food made by a loving mother linger in your head remembering you always ate too much. Was it the once a year heavenly smell of the freshly cut Christmas tree you got to pick out with just you and your dad, that you got to decorate some times all by yourself?

When we were young boys our parents would load up the car with hidden Christmas gifts in the trunk of the car and Dave and I would be off to our aunt Nettie's house in Utica to await the arrival of Santa on Christmas eve, always wondering how would he know we weren't going to be at our house. Ask him when we get to the North Pole was the answer from the front seat.  One night we were afraid to peek out at the tree because we thought we heard Santa delivering all the gifts on our list. We even pretended that we got a glimpse of him drinking the milk and eating the cookies we left out just for him. I can remember one Christmas asking; how did Santa get down the chimney when there was not a chimney in Aunt Nettie's house? The answer was because he can and you can ask him how he does it when you visit him at the North Pole.  Christmas day was another joyous day filled with lots of presents and more home made Italian food than you can even imagine.

But what I remember the most was the love.

I believe it is such a wonder when we can see Christmas through the eyes of a child. Christmas is that magical  time of the year that always seems to bring out the child in all of us. The Christmas music and movies we could experience and only dream about was when St. Nick came to OUR house. We as parents must most definitely cherish the opportunity to build life long happy memories for our children so that some day they will pass on their love for their children at Christmas time.

Only love can be the carrier of our children's walk down Christmas's memory lane, because isn't love what Christmas is all about anyway ?

Let the magic and love of Christmas linger in your heart all year long and find someone to share that love.

My brother Dave is no longer with me but the memories of the Christmases we shared together still live deep within my heart. This holiday season please share your memories of Christmas past with your friends and especially with your children. It will be the best present they will ever receive from you.

Merry Christmas Dave, sleep in heavenly peace.