Nativity scenes: It doesn’t matter if they’re big,
little, or miniature scenes, with or without animals. I love them
all. Seeing them reminds me about the birth of our Savior, a gift
for the world and my heart smiles.
Christmas music: So many of the latter verses of familiar Christmas hymns,
the ones that aren’t usually sung, focus on the reason Jesus came. Even
piped in Christmas elevator music brings me a smile as I hum along.
Visiting nursing homes or senior centers: I love listening to
them tell their life stories. The last time we visited, one lady
pointed toward my husband and asked me how old my dad was. Although
my honey didn’t find it as humorous as I did. It made my
day!
Grandma’s Christmas cookies: If my parents can’t make it out here
to celebrate Christmas with us, mom sends a mega amount of cookies (move over
Mrs. Fields), more than enough to give to all our friends and anyone else we
meet. We put them in a huge, red box labeled “Grandma’s Cookies” and
snap pictures of everyone who takes one out. The photos are placed in a mini
album, and sent to her. I smile when I send it. She smiles when she receives
it.
The Messiah: Each year you can usually find somewhere to go see a performance
of the Messiah and sometimes they actually let the audience sing-a-long. The
Hallelujah Chorus alone is worth the money. You can’t hear it without
smiling a little and thinking about God.
Snow: Newborn snow like we see back East or in the Midwest is beautiful. What
a miracle snow is! Making snowmen, having snowball fights, or just watching
Frosty on TV makes me smile.
The Giving Tree: Each year our bank sponsors “The Giving Tree” which
allows you to buy gifts for homeless families or toys for needy children. These
people have made a little wish list and we have the opportunity to grant it.
I imagine the smile of a child who doesn’t have much when he or she receives
that special gift. The requests are small in comparison to what most of us
wish for.
Christmas caroling: Yes, some people still go Christmas caroling!
Some of our friends do it every year the Saturday night before
Christmas in their neighborhood and ask us to come along. We only
carol at the decorated houses so not to offend and guess what?
The people we sing to smile and love it. They give us cookies and
drinks. We feel like we are on an old Currier and Ives postcard.
Reading The Gift of the Magi: Reading O’Henry always brings me a smile
but his Gift of the Magi is poignant, bittersweet. I also enjoy the Velveteen
Rabbit and Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. “God bless us everyone!”
The turkey dinner I cook for my family: My family loves my turkey dinner on
Christmas Day. They love my stuffing, my turkey, my gravy, and even my store
bought cranberry sauce. Eating it makes them smile. And much laughter follows
as we spend time together playing a family game or watching a movie.
Christmas movies: Christmas movies make me smile…. a lot! My favorites
are: It’s a Wonderful Life (could watch it a hundred times and probably
have), Miracle on 34th Street (definitely the original, not the remake), Christmas
in Connecticut (the one with Barbara Stanwyck, not TV remake), A Christmas
Carol (just about all versions and remakes including A Muppet Christmas Carol),
A Christmas Story (all he wants for Christmas is a BB gun), White Christmas
(Crosby, Hope, Clooney), Meet Me in St. Louis (Judy Garland at her best), all
the animated cartoons (except the bizarre ones like Santa meets the Martians,
etc.), Home Alone 1 (2 is okay but skip 3), The Bells of St. Mary’s (Crosby,
Bergman), The Bishop’s Wife (and the remake The Preacher’s Wife),
The Lemon Drop Kid (only the one with Bob Hope), Meet John Doe (Gary Cooper,
Barbara Stanwyck), The Man Who Came to Dinner (Bette Davis), I’ll Be
Seeing You (Ginger Rogers, Joseph Cotton), The Holiday Affair (Janet Leigh,
Robert Mitchum), and Susan Slept Here (Debbie Reynolds, Dick Powell).
Putting an extra dollar in the Salvation Army pot: When I give paper money
the bell ringers flash me big smiles and say, “God bless you!” He
already has. That’s why I can put a little in the pot for others.
Christmas shopping: Yes, I said Christmas shopping! I know it’s a hustle
and bustle. I know it’s crowded and hectic. I know it’s full parking
lots and long check out lines. But I love going and giving a Christmas present
to each and every person I meet. I smile and say, “Merry Christmas!” |
