The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Christmas time! For many, it’s a joyous celebration, but for others, it brings difficult memories. For some, it brings both! After interviewing this person, who asked to remain anonymous, I was impressed that she could see the good in difficult times. She loves Christmas! “There’s just something about the music, the weather, the sugary treats, the cheerfulness around you…it’s just all magical! But then, sometimes, it isn’t. Sometimes, Christmas is full of stress, full of just life happening around you and realizing that no matter how hard you work, you still don’t have enough for your kids for Christmas. Then you get angry at society for putting these high standards to live by for Santa to bring one kid a pair of socks and the other kid a new gaming system. How is that fair for us parents who struggle to make ends meet? To still try and do the right thing and express to your children that it’s NOT about what you get for Christmas; it’s not about what the next kid has. It’s hard for their little minds to understand that.”

“I remember one Christmas in particular when the kids were about 6 and 8, and I went to the local school at Christmas break and asked about lost and found items (most schools give families a certain time to collect items, and then they give those items away or trash what’s left). I got the kids some clothes from the lost and found that year. I found a Jordan sweatshirt for my son and some Nike shorts for my daughter. The “name brand” items make them feel special. Then I called and asked if we could be part of the Angel Tree program ---that’s hard to do. Hard to ask for help. But they were amazing and helpful, and the kids got many amazing things to make them feel special. Then my husband and I tried to get something on their list that they asked Santa about so they could have that sense of security that Santa provided for them like he does their friends.”

“Years have passed now…and after so many struggling Christmases, the kids are older, and they know of the time they were part of an angel tree and that I got things at the lost and found for them. They are so thankful and love being a part of doing that for another family. So even though the stress of barely making ends meet has taught them that no matter what we went through, others go through it too, every year, and they love helping other families now. I’m so thankful for those struggling times, for what it taught my kids.”

A different memory inspires me: “My favorite Christmas story is from last year. My family and I had recently dedicated ourselves to God, and we had a totally different mindset. Yes, we all knew from growing up that Jesus is the reason for the season, but over time, you give in to what everyone else does, and that typically means spending a ton of money on someone to show them you love them. “

Last year, they had a birthday week for Jesus! They did something every day for seven days, leading up to Christmas, to “celebrate the true reason we are alive and so blessed with what we have. These are the seven things they did:

1. They read the story behind the candy cane, printed coloring sheets, and designed their own candy canes.

2. They went to the local hardware store and found a nail similar to those that Jesus had been nailed to the cross with, designed them with their own ribbon, and hung them from their Christmas tree.

3. They bought a poinsettia, read the history behind it, and gave it away to an older lady who loved plants and flowers.

4. They read the Christmas story out of the bible as a family and had a discussion.

5. They made a birthday cake and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus.

6. They made crosses from sticks, wrapped them in twine, and said a family prayer of thanks and gratitude.

7. We watched a scene from the movie “The Passion of the Christ” -(which can be very graphic and not recommended for younger kids).

She told me that she knows not everyone believes in the true reason for the season, but she hopes they will discover it this year. And when you do “have a birthday week for Jesus, the family will love it, and you can get so many fun ideas off of Pinterest. “ She said she knows it will be a new tradition in their household each Christmas.