"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." NIV version

Congratulations, Rachel Robertson!
January 5, 2009

Our Winner: Christmas Memory, Rachel Robertson

My favorite Christmas memory is last Christmas. My husband Peter was in Afghanistan with the Army and had been extended for 4 more months. I felt so lonely and sad as not only was he far away, but I was also far away from home and my parents. Our son Orion was born 4 months after he left and I was looking forward to the look on my husband's face when the two met for the first time. I put up a tree and put on Christmas music but my heart was not in it.

At 6:00 on Christmas morning, someone knocked on the door. My neighbor told me that her husband was playing Santa for their children and would we like to come over so Orion could see Santa too. I said all right and minutes later Orion and I went over. We knocked at the door and Santa answered. He started to say ho, ho but before he could go any further, tears ran down his cheeks. He pulled down his beard and there in front of me was my husband Peter! He had come in late the night before as he had been granted two weeks' leave at the last minute and had been flying for over 38 hours. He called our neighbor and they decided to surprise us.

What I thought would be the worst Christmas in my life turned out to be the best Christmas I can ever remember.

Finalists, Christmas Memories

C.A. Bryant's entry

I was 17, almost 18 years old and had decided that church was for suckers. To repay me, my foster family drove me to the nearest city (where I didn't know anyone) and simply dropped me off with a backpack.

Christmas was coming, and I was alone.

I managed through on my own until Christmas Eve, sleeping under bridges, in bus stations, on random couches of people who didn't mind a random teenager crashing there. December 24th rolled around, the day bitterly cold. I spent much of the day hiding in a bus terminal, trying to keep warm. I had a pair of gloves, I had a scarf. I had somehow lost my socks, and I remember clearly how cold my toes were in my shoes.

The sky clouded over, and I overheard people saying, "It's going to be a white Christmas." Afraid for my sockless feet, I asked around and found out where the nearest youth shelter was. I headed there on foot, and arrived right around dinner time.

They let me in with a smile. They served me a good, hot meal. They had a Christmas tree and a small stereo playing cheerful carols that could barely be heard over the sound of too many noisy, well fed street kids. When I asked to be allowed to sleep there, they had a bed available. I was safe, for the night.

I woke up in the morning and glanced out the window; it had snowed, and it had snowed a lot. My childhood delight of a white Christmas had been obliterated by my fear of being too cold for too long. I could smell hot cider coming from the kitchen. I got up, put my shoes back onto bare feet, and went out to greet the day.

To my surprise, there were presents under the tree that morning! Stockings thumbtacked to the walls! A breakfast of pancakes and eggs and bacon, hot cider, hot chocolate, and coffee! I nearly broke down and cried from joy.

I ate my fill. The staff at the shelter allowed all of us homeless, family-less kids to open presents and pick a stocking from the wall. I got candy, trail mix, a bottle of water. I got ponytail ties and a couple barrettes for my hair. I was gifted with scented lotion and a stick of deodorant and, miraculously, two new pairs of socks. Then the impractical gifts appeared; a hair dryer, and a large stuffed bunny that looked like it should have arrived on Easter, not Christmas.

I thanked the people at the shelter and made off with my gifts into the snow, clean socks on my feet and a smile on my face. The hair dryer was bartered away that day for another hot meal, but for some reason, I kept the bunny. Eight Christmases later, the big yellow bunny still greets me on Christmas morning to remind me that there are good people in the world, and to never ever take anything for granted.

Margaret Stevens' entry

Though we were very poor, my dad bought a couple bags of oranges and apples and candy and a couple of dimestore toys.He left them in a field about a quarter of a mile from our house as we lived in the country. He came in the door and told my sister and I that Santa Claus's sleigh had broken down and needed our help. Our shoes crunching on frozen snow, he led us out into the night. A quarter-mile away was the homemade sleigh Dad had made, with sacks of oranges, apples and candy plus even a toy for each of us. That made my Christmas come alive then and forever more.

Kathy Mullins' entry

My fondest Christmas memories are of my Uncle Bobby. This is my first Christmas without him, and I miss him terribly.

He was totally blind, and was a wonderful godfather as well as uncle. I used to pick him up on Christmas Eve, and he would treat me to lunch. During Christmas, his presence would light up a room with his sense of humor and quick smile. I then would bring him back the day after Christmas, to be spoiled yet again by being treated to a wonderful lunch and other Christmas treats. He would ask if we were going to CVS. That always meant that we both would get more candy for ourselves!

Christmas was magic for me whenever I had Uncle Bobby's smiling face around to keep me in the spirit of Christmas. This year, I remembered him by sharing memories I had of him with all of my friends and family.

This essay is written in loving memory of Robert W. Mullins, who died on Sept. 30, 2008. He may be gone but he's never forgotten.

Carrie Stewart's entry

This Christmas as absolutely wonderful. I had a new, big house to decorate. We were able to give the kids a nice Christmas, and we enjoyed spending time with our family. I was not drunk and resentful this Christmas. I was not full of shame and despair this Christmas. I did not cut my arms this Christmas. I am a recovering alcholic and this was my first sober Christmas in a long time. When I think of Christmas pasts, I begin to be haunted by guilt, shame, and remorse. Then God takes my hand and tells me that I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this moment, and that my experiences can and will benefit others. This Christmas was very special to me for that reason.

Yvonne Butler's entry

My best Christmas ever, although I didn't realize it at the time, was the Christmas before I lost Jackie, my oldest son, in a July diving accident. All our family on both sides were there. We packed into that two-bedroom trailer that was our home at the time. We feasted on ham and turkey and dumplings and dressing, 12-layer chocolate cake, red velvet cake, pecan pies,and so much more. All were his favorites.

The men sat around on the floors in front of the TV and the kids ran and chased each other even though they had no room to run. My son was 15 that next January but was already holding a job before school working in the bakery with his grandmother. Most boys at 4:00 a.m. were sleeping, but not Jackie. He was already rolling out dough for donuts. That year he seemed almost grown. He organized the kids to go to the bedroom and play board games, and when they were settled, he returned to watch ballgames with the men. I looked up from where I was finishing eating and he had the smallest baby in his arms getting him to sleep.

No one knew that that Christmas was so special for it would be his last and there would be no babies to carry on his name. God has a great child in heaven today and each time a small baby dies and I hear about it I picture him up there sitting on the floor of that mansion rocking them to sleep. I know he is God's helper now. He loved babies, so I know that he is the one God put to help the babies. Yes, I have great memories of that special Christmas and the love and joy our families have for each other.

Every Christmas we get together, he is remembered by someone who will remember that Christmas and something they remember about him. These are new and precious memories to add, each year.

Kirsten Kimball's entry

I was in an abusive marriage and my husband decided not to put Christmas lights up. We didn't have a lot of money but any lights would have made my little girl happy. A friend of his got mad and dug our lights out, strung them up while my husband was at work...While they weren't the nicest or the straightest, they were the best in my little girl's eyes. She was so thrilled to have lights on her house.

Cynthia Hagood's entry

Going to midnight mass with my family. My father sang a solo, "Oh, Holy Night," and it was so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.

Julia's entry

My favorite Christmas memory would be when my baby sister was two. Her play pen was set up in the living room, so we had Christmas in the basement! We put up a Christmas the tree (it was a cozy basement with a fireplace)and opened our presents next to the fire. The most fun, though, was watching my little sister play with the wrapping paper instead of the presents, which we had to unwrap for her. If we didn't help her along, she would have sat there all day, perplexed as to why there was a box with paper on it sitting in front of her. 

Hattie Norman's entry

My memory is getting dull. However, I am happy. Due to God's Grace, there is a Christmas Memory that is unforgettable in my mind.

It was Christmastime in Pennsylvania. The streets were deep in snow. Cars could not move, so neighbors and visitors walked through the streets to each others' homes. "Merry Christmas" and a smile was the welcome mat of the day.

I remember walking from my sister's house with Christmas gifts in our arms. My package wrapped in bright red gift paper covered with snowmen. Inside I hoped there might be a organ. My Christmas wish came true. I received an organ. It was placed on the dining room table. I tried to play Christmas carols all day.

I have never experienced another snowy Christmas. It is a memory I hold dear. Merry Christmas to all!

Autumn H's memory

My great-grandparents would hire a plane to fly over their house and all the kids would watch out the window (the red light from the plane was supposed to be Rudolph's nose). Then we'd hear a big bang and the jingle of bells downstairs. We'd run down and find our stockings filled. Oh, how I miss them!

Jane Squires' memory

I still have a picture of my favorite Christmas Memory. When I was young, we were poor and didn\'t have a lot. This particular Christmas, all we were going to have for dinner on Christmas was potato soup. We were happy with that. We didn't worry whether we had a large family meal or not. There were nine to feed with my Grandmother and a boarder in the house.

Christmas Eve around 8 P.M., a group of men from the church showed up with boxes for us five kids. They had brought ham and everything we would need for Christmas dinner - one like we had never had. We were excited because there was also candy, apples and oranges as well. I was in Jr. High at that time.

But that wasn't the end. Each one of us kids had a box with NEW clothes in them. It was the first new outfit we had ever had. We'd worn hand-me-downs from cousins. I keep that picture of us all in our new clothes.

Years later I learned the Sunday School Teacher I had when I was 8 turned our sizes in to a group of people at church who bought the clothes. That teacher was my friend for 45 years. She is now with Jesus.

Gayla Collins' memory

My family is very extended, but one Christmas when I lived on a ranch with my aunt and uncle, the whole crew joined us; my biological father, stepmom, half brother and sister, aunts, uncles, cousins. Snow had fallen heavily and it was cold so I remember Jello salads, cranberries, pies, being covered and stuck in the snow. Also all the beverages. We children made snow cones with the fresh snow and Kool-aid. The adults even made us snow ice cream.

Everyone was broke so presents weren't a big deal....it was about family chipping in together with what they could bring and enjoying time together. Several children to a bed.....only one bathroom. I don't even remember how we managed that, but as a child I don't think I was concerned.

My daddy had built a sleigh all the summer before and we hitched to horses and had sleigh rides down our country road while singing carols at the top of our lungs.

It was like a fairy tale Christmas. I haven't thought of it in so long. That is tragic as I have so many unhappy Christmas memories. Thank God for prompting me to remember a time that was pure and innocent.

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Dear Readers, you overwhelmed me with such beautiful writing, such marvelous stories! I've included twenty MORE memories in condensed version on the Favorites/Lists section of the website. Please visit often!