Gina Caswell Kelly
I love everything about Christmas. I love the lights. I really enjoy driving around and looking at the houses all decorated up. I enjoy the Christmas Parade and seeing all the vehicles lit up and the kiddos being so excited about seeing Santa. I enjoy decorating my own house and seeing the trees looking so pretty with all the ornaments that mean so much to me. Actually, the ornaments are what I want to talk about.
I am going to admit this in public, for all to see. I have four full size trees at my house, and one smaller one. There. I said it. I heard a lady say one time that anyone who had more than one Christmas tree at their house had more money than brains! Well, I assure you, that is not the case. It is not like I went out one day and said, “I believe I will put up more than one tree. I must shop!” No. The truth is that so many of the hundreds of ornaments I have on my trees are very meaningful to me and have been collected over many, many years. So many memories on my trees. And I so enjoy looking at them and thinking about where I was when I got them, or the people who gave them to me.
I have ornaments that are from students I had in school. Some of those students are no longer with us, but I have the memory of those from looking at the beautiful ornaments. I have lots of vintage ornaments. Some from my own childhood that help me remember what Christmases were like as I was growing up. I have some vintage ornaments from a dear lady in California who was a friend of my sister. They are over 100 years old and so very delicate. I have some from a sweet lady with whom I used to stay occasionally when I was little. She had such a talent for making beautiful things. Her sweet granddaughter gifted me with these a few years ago.
I have ornaments from when Mike Kelly and I first got married. Oh I treasure those! They are nearly 50 years old now! I have an ornament that Mike picked out the last Christmas I had him. So meaningful. I have ornaments that my kids made and that my grandkids have made. I love to look at those and remember those times past.
I have ornaments that I have gotten while traveling. Some while I had Mike, and some after he was gone. All remind me of so many precious times.
Our memories are such a gift from God. Our memories are so precious. They bless us in so many ways. As you enjoy this wonderful Christmas season, of course, do not lose sight of the reason. But also, spend some time just sitting quietly and enjoying the iights, the decorations, the memories, and thank God for the wonderful gift of His Son, but also the very sweet gift of precious memories.
Have a great and blessed Christmas!! Let the knowledge of God sending His Son make a difference for you!
