During the holidays, whenever I heard the song, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” my heart and mind swelled with memories of the past and the hope for a family gathering in the present. As a young woman, I remember my longings to get home to what was familiar, the smells of favorite dishes being prepared in the kitchen, candles in the window, holly and red bows, and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree by the hands of a creative mother. Life wasn’t always perfect, but the holidays filled me with hope and dreams that I longed to be fulfilled, and now that I look back at my life another set of lyrics fill my mind, “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas.” Living in Tucson, Arizona for most of my life made those words more of a dream, and yet, on a rare occasion, when snow touched the desert floor, and clung to the saguaro cacti, desert trees, and plants, it was magical.
The Christmas songs of the past affect each of us in different ways, arousing in me a tingling feeling of wonderment, the unexpected, and a comfort of peace and thankfulness. This holiday music is timeless, and each year it spills through the radio and highlights TV specials during December with songs and the unique voices of Bing Crosby, Andy Williams, Perry Combo, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin.
Christmas for Christians is about the birth of Christ. When I share the story of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus with my grandson, James, I think of what Mary must have suffered as a woman and a mother knowing the greatness of her child and the challenges he would face, not as an ordinary boy or man, but as the son of God. When I hear the song, “Silent Night,” I always think of Mary, and imagine the emotions she must have felt – pride, joy, fear, sadness, and yes confusion and doubt, what all mothers feel.
Let’s create beautiful memories this holiday season, and may the lyrics of a classic song open our hearts to change and the excitement of new beginnings.
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