Christmas thoughts and memories!

  I sit here tonight, thinking of family, friends, Christmas's past and loved ones who are no longer around. I remember my aunt that we called SANTA ANNA!  She made Christmas exciting  for 3 kids who were not her own. A. Anna, my mom's next older sister, loved us as her own, played Santa (in secret), helped my parent's with Santa Claus and generally endeared herself to us all. She was my aunt and my best friend. (till my wife came along.)
   I remember Christmas's when I was over-seas, serving in the Army. I think of the German family who shared their home and holiday with an American G.I.  They fed me, bought me gifts and made Christmas 1977 bearable for a young man who was spending his first Christmas away from home. They were great when Christmas wasn't really exciting.
   I remember Christmas's when I was alone, traveling with work or just roaming. No goals, no plans and no sense of direction. Alone by choice because I had no better sense.  Some of those Christmas's, I spent in truckstops, visiting with other drivers, who like me were on the road because that's where the job took them.
   I remember 1989!  Breakfast at my in-laws and then the trip to the hospital for the gift of a lifetime: the birth of my son. Tough Christmas for my wife but in the end, a great one all the way around. He has now given us a beautiful daughter-in-law and 2 fantastic grandchildren.
   So many Christmas's, so many memories, so much to be thankful for. I think of this Christmas, 2010!   So many blessings to think of, and so many friends to share them with. If you are reading this post, know that you are one of the blessings of the season. My family and friends are the most important things that I have, except for the Love and Salvation that Jesus gave me. His birth is the greatest birthday, His death is the greatest gift.
  Gifts are a strange thing when you think of them. They look great in the paper that they are wrapped in but are totally useless if you don't accept and open them.  God gave us the gift of his Son in order that the Son could give us the gift of His blood on the cross. That gift is there for each of us but we must accept it, open it and use it. I pray that each of you will consider the gift, the giver and the reason for the season.
  For this Christmas, I pray God's blessings on each of you, my friends and family. May the Joy of the Season be yours throughout the coming New Year.