Tom Williams, the vice president told about the Christmas when he learned that Santa Claus was just a story. He grew up in Georgia the youngest of six children. One year he asked Santa for a bicycle for Christmas. It so happened that his sister did too. There were some pine trees behind their house where he and his brothers liked to play and build forts often with dried pine needles. One day they found a pile of pine needles that they had not piled up. Under the pile they found two empty bicycle cartons. He realized that either Santa had bought the bicycles or mom and dad had done so and hidden the evidence. He said the real story is about the God who became a baby in a manger, that is not just a story, it is fact.
Randy Rains grew up in western Kentucky. He said that every year for Christmas his family would drive to west Tennessee to his grandparents house. One year he surprised that Santa Claus knew his name. On Christmas eve the whole extended family would go to church and his grandparents church. It was a small church that planned a Christmas pageant, a service and an appearance by Santa Claus, who would bring each of the children a gift. One Christmas eve, as a visitor in this church Santa Claus called out his name and gave him his first bible. He said it was several years later that he realized the Jesus knows his name and that is what is really important.
Dickie Nelson talked about growing up in Mississippi. He said that every Christmas the family would get up very early to go to his grandparent's house. He remembers that every year his grandparents would give him a pair of socks for Christmas. Because of the early morning schedule Christmas day they had their family Christmas on Christmas eve. It would begin with the family gathering to read the Christmas story from the bible. Then they would drive around town to look at Christmas lights. Finally, they would go home, the children would wait in a bedroom while 'Santa Claus' came.
Lloyd Atkinson told about growing up in up in Miami where it is warm and humid at Christmas time. Again Christmas was about the grandparents. He said they always used home made decorations. He said that his grandmother would use a mixture of Fab detergent to flock the Christmas tree. There was always a lot of food as well. For Lloyd the aroma of pine, Fab and food are a great reminder of Christmas.It was interesting to hear the stories. I am always fascinated with people's stories. Each story was accompanied by a childhood picture that provided an additional dimension to the stories. It was also interesting that several of the memories focus on grandparents and time spent with extended families. The bonds that tie families together are the shared memories and stories that are told again and again. They become a part of our identity.
He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our fahers to teach their children, so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children. Then they would put their trust in God and would not forget his deeds but would keep his commands. Psalms 78: 5-7
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