As I have done throughout Advent, I've endeavored to keep the "word" of the week - Hope, Peace, Joy and now Love in front of me. I've listened to quotes, songs, and tried to remember experiences that focused on love.
The first quote is easy,
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son. . .".That's Christmas in a nutshell.
Christmas is all about love - Perfect love.
And it’s about traditions.
Christmas was always important to our family. Daddy’s parents did not have much money. They always went out on Christmas Eve to do their shopping because stores had items marked down. That carried over into adulthood for Daddy. He wanted to go buy one more thing on Christmas Eve.
Mother’s parents always had fruit and nuts in their stockings, so we got... you guessed it, fruit and nuts
Mother told us that when she was a child, she just knew she could hear Santa on the roof.
However, she did not want us to believe in Santa Claus. And yet, there were always unwrapped gifts under the tree. And we left a snack of cheese and crackers and a Coke for Santa (our daddy’s preference). We didn’t believe in the Easter Bunny (but we always had an Easter basket). Nor did we believe in the tooth fairy. But that did not prevent us from leaving a tooth under our pillow. So none of us is irritated that we didn’t get to “believe in Santa Claus”.
When Cindy and I had children, Daddy humored us by dressing up as Santa Claus. In 1977, Mother, Daddy, Cindy, Robert, and their children came to see us in Chattanooga. The first four Huffingham grandchildren are hiding Santa, but I promise you that it is their Granddaddy.
As the grands grew up, they came to love and appreciate Santa and Mrs. Claus. They truly were a picture of love.
So, Advent comes to a close and the candle of love is lit, I believe in Santa Claus...because I believe in love!May you have enough sunshine in your life to help you appreciate the shadows
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