Family

---

Christmas Wrapping Paper

Ah, Christmas Eve! It’s the time we all gather at my mom’s (“Grandma”) – my siblings, our spouses, children, and the great-grandchildren. Arms laden with gifts, we wander into the house. The great-grandchildren are wide-eyed in wonderment at the sight of the once-bare Christmas tree, now sprinkled with gifts of all sizes and colors.

The smell of cut-out cookies, pizza, and homemade bread permeates the air. Who needs scented candles on a night like this! Greetings, hugs, and blessings of Christmas are freely found by everyone upon arrival. We catch up on events since we last saw each other, which is usually not more than a few weeks. I help in the kitchen preparing fried cakes, while others cut up the pizza, set the table, and entertain the little children.

Finally, dinner is ready! Everyone scrambles to a chair as the food is brought in by the plateful. Our feast consists of pizza, fried cakes (sort of a fried bread dough), and homemade bread. We laugh, talk, and pass the peanut butter and jelly.

After dinner, we clear the table and wash the dishes. At the same time, we eat some cookies, canoli’s, and cheesecake. Once the dishes are put away, we assemble in the living room for our annual gift exchange.

As we take turns opening our gifts, ooh’s and ah’s can be heard, along with the occasional “I wanted that!” The great grandchildren are happily playing with their Hot Wheels, yet are always ready to open their own gifts.

Wrapping paper is admired greatly, at least by me. I take the time to look at the paper and make comments about it. My siblings have threatened to just use brown paper. Knowing me, I would still remark on its uniqueness and beauty.

But alas, we complete yet another Christmas eve. All the gifts are opened, paper is gathered in a trash bag, and cookies are consumed by the handful. Grandma is thrilled with all her goodies including cashews, jello, and assorted crackers. We spend some time chatting and thanking each other for the gifts.

No one wants to leave the warm atmosphere of Grandma’s house, with the smell of home-baked goodies still lingering. Grandma’s cut-out cookies are the best ever, and we all take some home for a midnight snack. Car engines are started and gifts are loaded into our cars. The little ones are still on a sugar-high as they are bundled up for the ride home.

For this Christmas, we exchange gifts, but the one gift my family needs the most is the one gift I cannot give them. Salvation can come only from our Savior, Jesus Christ, and I fervently pray for my family. Through Jesus, we can each have the free gift of eternal life, for Jesus will save us from our sins. So let us give homage and praise to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and fervently pray for salvation for the lost.

May each of you have a blessed and peaceful Christmas, and accept the joy of the Lord upon your hearts and lives.

Isaiah 9:6 - For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Matthew 1:21 – “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

Copyright © Virginia Gorg, 2005
All scripture is from the NIV.

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE