I Was Home For Christmas Last Night

For an instant on Christmas Eve’s joyous celebration last night, I reflected on some very special memories.

This Christmas found me where the reality of love’s light gleamed. There were smiles on faces, expressive laughter resounding with joy, and conversations of life experiences. This all filled the home with warmth like a fresh Yule Log burning in a grand fireplace. There were stories shared of family traditions as descriptions of Christmas cookies and peanut bars danced in our heads. Recounting the tales of how foods were spiced and how much time was spent to prepare brought a hungering taste of anticipation to our palates. Others remarked with turned tongues that they could not even bear to try this or that delicacy from the farm in North Dakota. Tonight the home was adorned with beautiful decorations, the table setting looked like a posed ideal photo calling out an invitation to come and dine. The presents were piled high by the tree, the aroma of the chili simmered on the stove, texts were sent and received, all blending into a Christmas memory of this year’s celebration. Prophetic thoughts of future celebrations yet to be humbled us all. My granddaughter spoke of just realizing that when she reaches the 1/4 century mark of her birth her mother will reach the half century mark in her life. My Grandson immediately responded that when he reaches his quarter century mark of his birth Grandpa will reach his 3/4 century mark. Lifetimes of blessings indeed of Christmases past, present, and future.

When we finished our Christmas eve meal the table was quickly cleared. The leftovers found their way to the fridge. The dishes were washed and tucked away in their places within the cupboard. The long-awaited phrase we had learned as children resonated throughout the house, “We’re ready to open presents!”.

Everyone started to move toward the living room. Excitement could be heard from the youngest to the oldest. All would nestle into their selected spots and await the distribution of their gifts from under the brightly glowing tree.

As I made my way from the dining room table, I passed by a tall antique cabinet that belonged to my grandmother, “Little Grandma”, Lillian Borgendale Simpson. It was at that moment I paused on my journey to open presents. I know not if it was that my eyes were just made clearer from recent cataract surgery but I was drawn to the cabinet as never before. I tenderly placed my hand upon the old wooden chest and moved my fingers over it. With a spirit of humility and reverence my hand moved over it as if I was touching the smoothness of grandmother’s cheek I knew as a child. It was at that singular instant, I was home for Christmas.

My heart swelled within me as I realized that I had passed by that cabinet all of my life. When my mother first carried me as a newborn baby into the home of her parents I would have passed by this very cabinet. When crawling I passed by this same cabinet, before I could talk I passed by it, when I took my first steps at “Little Grandmas” I would have walked by this precious cabinet now turned golden with the patina of years gone by.

Through the years I could not even begin to count the times I had passed by this cabinet filled with generational treasures. Some were from Norway when the Borgendale’s came to America and settled on the SW Minnesota Farm near Dawson. My first preaching experience after graduating from Bible College served some people from Dawson that were members of Antelope Hills Church of Christ in rural Canby, Minnesota.

My entire journey of life opening the gifts of God, of family and of friends for 72 years is a blessing of inheritance. I am humbly grateful to God to be overwhelmed by His gift to me in Christ. Our first child was born while we lived north of Canby. It is at our daughter’s house where this cabinet now stands. Passed down to my mother, to my sister and then to my daughter it reminded me tonight of God’s gift of Jesus to my life. He did not overlook any of us as He prepared a manger and gave us the gift of Emmanuel “God with us”.

Each of us has a cabinet or curio filled with countless blessings. On your journey of life pause and reflect on His uncountable blessings in your life.

Last night I was home for Christmas! It was more than a dream. God planned for me and prepares the number of years yet to be.

Share the gift of God by giving to others every day of the year. Open the eyes of others with clear vision to see the real meaning of Christmas. It is God working in our lives for generations yet to be. Don’t let your life pass by without taking the time to see His daily care for you. The generational impact of His eternal love spurs us on to tell the story of Jesus. He alone is God’s gift to you. Unwrap your gift today. It bears your name and is given to you by your Father who is preparing a place for you. My prayer for you is that you will one day be truly home for Christmas.