Advent – the time of preparation
Christmas carols and hymns fill the car these days as I play my CDs and listen to the all-Christmas, all-the-time radio station. It seems as though many of the Christmas carols have home and homecoming as a theme. “I’ll be Home for Christmas” sums up many of the feelings people have for the holidays – Christmas is a time to return home – to go back to the times when one felt most loved.
The Christmases of my youth are remembered with a smile on my lips and a warmth in my heart. We would wake on Christmas morning to a quiet house and colorful presents under a beautiful tree. I remember my brother Randy wanted a dump truck – he received 12. The Hop-along Cassidy outfit I received from my Godfather was awesome. (It was complete with pants, shirt, hat, cap guns and boots.) Mom’s cooking filled the house with wonderful scents when we opened the door after church service. It was a time for love and hugs. The presents, the meal, the hugs, the decorations all fade in memory, but the warm feeling of being loved lasts.
The Christmases of my adult life are filled with mixed emotions. The joy of seeing our children’s faces as they opened their gifts, enjoyed their Momma’s cooking, were hugged and loved is balanced with other Christmas memories.
Bunny and I spent Christmas with her folks in 1969. That was the last Christmas we were able to spend with the two of them. Dad Conrad was called home to heaven the following fall and Mom Conrad a year later.
Christmas 1981 is remembered with Bunny comforting 2-week-old Russell as he lay in his incubator in the hospital under the Bilirubin lights. The tape used to close his eyes caused his skin to burn. His small hands searched for the warmth of his Mommy’s face as she held him close to her and tried to ease his pain.
Advent 1990 was spent in the hospital with Bobby playing the keyboard and Russell, Richie and Becky joining me to sing Christmas carols to Bunny as she received her first chemo treatment.
1999 saw Christmas presents brought to the hospital for Mom Cohrs days before she was called home to heaven with Dad joining her for Christmas 2001.
This Christmas will be celebrated with friends and family as Bunny celebrates in Heaven.
Yes, I do long to be home for Christmas – even in my dreams. I long for the Christmas home of my youth and look forward to the Christmas home of today. I long to be home for the eternal Christmas. Our parents and Bunny are gazing on the face of Jesus, are basking in His love, and are free from the sin of this world. That is a wonderful home. I prepare for His birth and long for His coming.
Come – Lord Jesus.
The Christmases of my youth are remembered with a smile on my lips and a warmth in my heart. We would wake on Christmas morning to a quiet house and colorful presents under a beautiful tree. I remember my brother Randy wanted a dump truck – he received 12. The Hop-along Cassidy outfit I received from my Godfather was awesome. (It was complete with pants, shirt, hat, cap guns and boots.) Mom’s cooking filled the house with wonderful scents when we opened the door after church service. It was a time for love and hugs. The presents, the meal, the hugs, the decorations all fade in memory, but the warm feeling of being loved lasts.
The Christmases of my adult life are filled with mixed emotions. The joy of seeing our children’s faces as they opened their gifts, enjoyed their Momma’s cooking, were hugged and loved is balanced with other Christmas memories.
Bunny and I spent Christmas with her folks in 1969. That was the last Christmas we were able to spend with the two of them. Dad Conrad was called home to heaven the following fall and Mom Conrad a year later.
Christmas 1981 is remembered with Bunny comforting 2-week-old Russell as he lay in his incubator in the hospital under the Bilirubin lights. The tape used to close his eyes caused his skin to burn. His small hands searched for the warmth of his Mommy’s face as she held him close to her and tried to ease his pain.
Advent 1990 was spent in the hospital with Bobby playing the keyboard and Russell, Richie and Becky joining me to sing Christmas carols to Bunny as she received her first chemo treatment.
1999 saw Christmas presents brought to the hospital for Mom Cohrs days before she was called home to heaven with Dad joining her for Christmas 2001.
This Christmas will be celebrated with friends and family as Bunny celebrates in Heaven.
Yes, I do long to be home for Christmas – even in my dreams. I long for the Christmas home of my youth and look forward to the Christmas home of today. I long to be home for the eternal Christmas. Our parents and Bunny are gazing on the face of Jesus, are basking in His love, and are free from the sin of this world. That is a wonderful home. I prepare for His birth and long for His coming.
Come – Lord Jesus.