Think about some of your best Christmas memories. What do you remember most about them? What brings them to life? The secret to making lasting Christmas memories for me was the gift of time.
Each year, I’m reminded of what Christmas is really all about – the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. And the joy of celebrating the Lord’s birth with my loved ones. Think about it. It doesn’t require a trip to the mall, a purchase online, or a large sum of money to make Christmas memories that will last. It just requires one investment – your time.
Why Time Matters Most
When, I look back on past Christmases, I’m flooded with memories of one thing – time spent with family. I can’t recall the gifts I received each year. Or the clothes I wore. I don’t even remember the decorations on the tree. But, what I do remember most are the people – my parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends. And the gift of their time to make Christmas memories that have lasted a lifetime.
Christmas Past
Growing up, my family celebrated Christmas Eve at my grandparents’ house where twelve of us gathered around to eat a big Italian meal called the Seven Fishes. Afterwards, we walked to mass at our nearby church and watched the children’s Christmas pageant. Then came my favorite part of the night – eating the homemade Christmas cookies that my grandmother and aunt made each year. Who can forget the colored butter cookies, decadent chocolate nut drops, and her famous Italian lemon cookies. Once our bellies were full, we tracked Santa’s whereabouts and then headed home with the hope that he’d stop by our house that night.
Now that I’m married with my own family, my Christmas memories are still about people and not about things. It’s all about giving our time to make lasting Christmas memories. For example, we still celebrate Christmas Eve as a family by attending mass together. Now that my grandparents have passed, we go to my sister’s house for dinner. Then comes dessert – Christmas cookies – just like some of the ones my grandmother used to make. When my kids were little, one of my favorite Christmas memories was making sure Santa’s reindeer had food to eat too. We’d make homemade reindeer food and carefully sprinkle it on the front lawn to be sure that Santa would find his way.
Christmas Present
With two teens in the house now, our Christmas memories aren’t exactly the same, but I’m enjoying making new ones. As always, the weeks leading up to Christmas are busy ones as we trim the tree together as a family, decorate the house and put up the outside lights.
In recent years, my daughter and I have started a new tradition of our own – baking Christmas cookies together and giving them as gifts for our neighbors. Similar to what my grandmother did, we bake many kinds of cookies ranging from the Italian lemon cookies my grandmother used to make to new ones such as gingerbread men and sugar cookies in fun Christmas-shaped cut outs. Similarly, during the Christmas season, my husband and son plan an outing of their own by going to the movies to watch the latest Star Wars or Marvel movie release together.
It’s Not about the Gifts. It’s About Your Time.
One thing is certain, our time spent together as a family is what matters most. Giving our time doesn’t cost a lot of money (some activities cost none at all) but the memories have lasted a lifetime. The gift of our time is the most precious gift of all.
You see, God designed us for relationships. In other words, he never intended for us to be alone. More importantly, he wants us to remember the gifts he has given us that are right in front of us every single day. In addition to the gift of his Son, he gave us the gift of our loved ones – our family and friends. In short, we’ll won’t look back on the material gifts someday. We’ll look back on the gift of time we gave to others. And the memories that followed.
From Our Family to Yours
Finding ways to give your time to others is easy to do. Here a few simple ideas we’ve tried in our family to help make lasting Christmas memories…
Host a family Christmas movie night – There are plenty of Christmas movies out this time of year. In fact, many of them are on television so there’s no need to spend money at the movies or to rent one. Simply plan ahead to see what Christmas movies are available and schedule your family movie night around your favorite one. Pop popcorn and make hot chocolate as you enjoy some family time together. Better yet, make it Christmas movie night pajama style!
Bake cookies together – My daughter and I have continued my grandmother’s tradition of baking Christmas cookies. It’s a way for us to spend quality time together while having fun. Also, our bonding time is a way for us to give back as we deliver the cookies to neighbors and friends to spread a little Christmas cheer. The good news is that we still have some left over to share during our Christmas dinner with our family. We listen to some of our favorite Christmas tunes as we bake our way to creating special Christmas memories.
View Christmas light displays nearby – Christmas lights are everywhere! And, these days, you can find fabulous Christmas light displays right in your own neighborhoods. That being said, take some time as a family to take in the sights of the season. Walk or drive to nearby neighborhoods or communities and spend the evening as a family enjoying the lights.
Host a family game night – What’s a way to make memories that is good for kids of all ages? Family game night! Everyone (teens included) loves a good board game or card game. So, pick one that is a family favorite and is appropriate for your kids’ ages and have some friendly competition.
Work on a Christmas puzzle – We’ve had great success with working on a good old fashioned puzzle during the holidays. Who would have thought? Puzzles are great because they aren’t usually completed in one sitting. Because of this, you can work on them over time. And, the temptation is always there to finish it because who doesn’t want to see the finished product? Select a Christmas-themed puzzle or choose one from your favorite movie and gather around the dining room table. It’s not only good for family bonding time but it sharpens your mind too. And, it’s a great way to distract kids (and adults alike) from using their cell phones or watching television.
Visit a local Christmas event – Many cities host free Christmas parades or events. Go online to search for ones in your community and attend together as a family. Again, it’s the perfect way to make Christmas memories for family members of all ages.
This Christmas, Give Your Time
This Christmas, I’m focusing on giving my time. How about you? Instead of fretting over what other gifts I still need to buy, I’m choosing to give the gift of my time. By doing so, I know we’ll make new memories as a family while holding onto the old ones that have lasted a lifetime.
So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. – Romans 12:5 (NIV)
How do you plan on giving the gift of your time this Christmas? Please share in the comments section below.
So many wonderful ideas in this Christmas message. At my place of employment, we have adopted a family less fortunate. We are given sizes and likes for clothing and toys. We buy pajamas, cozy slippers and maybe some shirts, pants and maybe a nice warm coat. It is truly a wonderful feeling to see the delight in their eyes when they open these presents. That is the true meaning of Christmas.