My Christmas Memories

Christmas Eve, and Christmas for that matter, brings so many memories to mind that it would be hard to try and share all of them but I wanted to share some of my most cherished Christmas memories with you.  Family traditions, to me, are really enjoyable to hear about as that is what so much of our time as family is about; the traditions we create that are special to us.  My family tradition was simply to be together, and do whatever came up.  Some times it was either watching movies, or other times, watching favorite shows on TV.  One year that was incredibly memorable for me was when we all watched a Johnny Carson episode where he was reading letters to Santa.  I thought that was about the funniest thing I had seen, or heard, at that age.  That year, as is the case every Christmas Eve, my Mom made all sorts of snack foods, some different each year, that we would enjoy.  My Mom always has been, and will always be, really good at finding some unique things to have to eat, and the staples that we always bet on her having, every year at Christmas.

Christmas Mornings have always been something different in my home, and with my family, have always been great.  My parents have been the kind that knows exactly what to get each of us.  My two older brothers and I are all very different, and that is something too my parents always fostered in us.  They always had something for each of us that we absolutely enjoyed, that was unique to us, and we always had a great Christmas.  One year, I was a bit anxious as any kid under 16 is (and if you were to ask me about my current family, I would tell you that my 28-year old wife is just as bad) and I wandered out to see what Santa had brought.  I was the industrious one, the one who was willing to get up at dark-thirty and see what was out there.  We did have the things that were put out by Santa (Dad), and I had a hunch that year was going to be pretty cool.  Well, I was right.  That year, I had a really cool bike, and so did my brother Noah.  I went out, was completely overjoyed, and I also saw something that struck me odd.  There was something, or rather someone, on the couch looking my direction.  I thought that to be very odd, and while I was not ready or willing to admit it out loud, I was somewhat scared that someone was on our couch.  What makes this so funny to me now, is that it was my Dad, with pillows around him, waiting to make the reveal to my brother and I a true Kodak-Shumate moment.  But, I think the idea of sleeping over came him more than the idea of taking that picture.  He got the picture, later, with us and our bike’s, when the sun was up. 

Another year, when my oldest brother Aaron was with us after he had moved off to Kansas City, we enjoyed another great Christmas.  What both Aaron and I have been accused of is sounding exactly alike, and much to the dismay of my now sister-in-law, I carried on a conversation with her for roughly ten minutes on Christmas morning that year about what I got and how odd she thought some of the presents were.  She finally picked up the whole gig when I told her that I got a really cool remote control racing track, and, knowing Aaron the way she did, decided that something was rotten in the State of Arkansas. 

While most of my Christmas memories have been happy and positive, and have manifested themselves in the form of gifts, there are two years that are very distinct to me, where I learned a great deal about this season we call Christmas, and how through people I saw an attitude and heart that was made of love.  One year, after some incredible financial difficulties in my family, Christmas was something that seemed like more of a distraction than an event.  We had moved from a house to an apartment, and what had been so many years of a tradition was no longer there.  My oldest brother provided Christmas that year.  He did an amazing job, and made it so awesome for all of us, that I saw in him what I have looked up to for so many years.  When I asked him why he did it, it was as simple to him because of what our Dad had done for us for so many years.  He said it would be my turn one day and when it came I could do the same, and when that day comes, I will be ready.  A few years later, I was at home with my parents only, with my brothers having both moved away, and I celebrated with my Mom and Dad.  I remember mostly what I had asked for and I was still oblivious to some of their difficulties, and that morning, a morning I will never in my life forget, I had presents that came as close to what I wanted as they could afford, which was not much.  I was more upset at myself because of what I had asked for, but what I saw, and it hit me like a truck, was the heart that they had and their effort, that no matter what, they were going to provide something for Christmas.  That was one of the most amazing Christmas mornings I had ever had, and quite possibly will ever have.  There, with my Mom and Dad that morning, I saw Christ in my parents, in their love for me and giving all they could, to me.  It has changed me ever since, and I hope that your Christmas Eve events tonight, and your Christmas morning traditions that you have in the morning, that you too will see Christ in everyone around you, and like me on that morning, will be thankful for the gift of family.  A gift that no Tickle Me Elmo, Hannah Montana, or High School Musical could ever, ever touch.