My Cannon grandparents showed it by giving a family party every Christmas Eve at their modest home on the Avenues. A highlight of the tradition was sharing of talents – mainly music. Parents, aunts, uncles, and cousins played Grandmother's historic piano and other instruments. One loving couple always sang their favorite Hawaiian song(s) as a simple gift to the family; (they had served a Church mission as young marrieds in Hawaii.) I remember one of those gatherings when I played "O Holy Night" on the old upright piano. It should be no surprise that I have fond memories of the food as simple gifts, prepared by loving hands, mostly made from scratch; (I'm thinkin' Grandmother's chocolate cake!) And yes, I actually loved the fruitcake Mother provided for Christmas every year.
In our youth, the real live tree in our own homes every Christmas was an act of love on the part of my father and father-in-law. I can still remember the fresh smell which has been missing in our current home for years. (No complaints – just to emphasize a happy memory. As empty-nesters now, we value simplicity and convenience while enjoying the fresh trees in others' homes.) Old ornaments representing family history and beliefs convey loving memories shared with relatives and friends. Father's traditional reading of Luke chapter 2 about the birth of Jesus ... was a gift to us children on Christmas Day that set a lifetime pattern for posterity. And I am forever grateful to Mother for sharing her love of sacred music, especially at Christmas time.
Most of all, I am thankful for the simple gift of love from our Heavenly Father and from His Son Jesus Christ, whose birth and life we celebrate this month. May we feel it and give simple gifts throughout the coming year.
As my sweetheart Kay leads me to sing at neighbors' doors, "... we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" With love ...
"written for his children during the years 1846 to 1849 by Charles Dickens"
("Sir Henry Dickens' favorite portrait of his father.")
