Comments on: Why I Love Christmas http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/ A Mormon Blog Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:58:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Kerry Shirts http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19273 Kerry Shirts Mon, 25 Dec 2006 20:40:25 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19273 Merry Christmas on this Christmas day, to you Kevin, and all the rest of the posters. Your story touched me as I have come to realize that the one thing my parents never let happen was to have a missed Christmas. This didn't mean there were always lots of presents, but we never missed. One of my friends when I was 7 years old didn't get one present one year because his mom literally told him Santa found him on the naughty list! I will never forget his crushed demeanor. I had proudly gone over there to see what he had got, and showed off my new pair of football cleats I had gotten. I can't remember what I gave him, but I had gone home and told my parents, and they suggested it would be a wondrful gift of me to give him one of my gifts. And I did. The gift giving is what matters, the giving of self.......... Merry Christmas on this Christmas day, to you Kevin, and all the rest of the posters.

Your story touched me as I have come to realize that the one thing my parents never let happen was to have a missed Christmas. This didn’t mean there were always lots of presents, but we never missed.

One of my friends when I was 7 years old didn’t get one present one year because his mom literally told him Santa found him on the naughty list! I will never forget his crushed demeanor. I had proudly gone over there to see what he had got, and showed off my new pair of football cleats I had gotten.
I can’t remember what I gave him, but I had gone home and told my parents, and they suggested it would be a wondrful gift of me to give him one of my gifts. And I did. The gift giving is what matters, the giving of self……….

]]> By: Doug Evans http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19272 Doug Evans Sun, 24 Dec 2006 21:04:23 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19272 My father also died many years ago, a man to whom Christmas meant a great deal. My dad repaired model trains, mainly for parents who couldn't afford new ones to give to their children on Christmas morning. I remember him working almost through the night on Christmas eve to restore some model train engine or other equipment for just such a parent. He delivered it after dark when the children were asleep and because he had no vehicle he rode the street car to get it there on time. He gave me several trains at Christmas that he had built or restored. I have sold them all now that I am old, except for one set, which I am saving for my new grandson Pearson, when he is old enough to play with them and perhaps understand the joy of receiving a present built with tired and wrinkled hands and a loving heart by a man who really understood the joy of giving and watching the eyes of a youngster light up with delight. I miss my father deeply, but I will never forget his generosity and commitment to bringing joy to others at Christmas, especially children. God bless and a Merry Christmas to all. My father also died many years ago, a man to whom Christmas meant a great deal. My dad repaired model trains, mainly for parents who couldn’t afford new ones to give to their children on Christmas morning. I remember him working almost through the night on Christmas eve to restore some model train engine or other equipment for just such a parent. He delivered it after dark when the children were asleep and because he had no vehicle he rode the street car to get it there on time. He gave me several trains at Christmas that he had built or restored. I have sold them all now that I am old, except for one set, which I am saving for my new grandson Pearson, when he is old enough to play with them and perhaps understand the joy of receiving a present built with tired and wrinkled hands and a loving heart by a man who really understood the joy of giving and watching the eyes of a youngster light up with delight. I miss my father deeply, but I will never forget his generosity and commitment to bringing joy to others at Christmas, especially children. God bless and a Merry Christmas to all.

]]> By: Tracy M http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19271 Tracy M Sun, 24 Dec 2006 19:30:44 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19271 Thank you for sharing such a tender part of your own story- Merry Christmas. Thank you for sharing such a tender part of your own story- Merry Christmas.

]]> By: meems http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19270 meems Sun, 24 Dec 2006 13:49:01 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19270 Thanks for this story Kevin. I've been feeling a tiny bit grumpy lately because this is the first Christmas in a long time where money is really tight, and this story makes me grateful for what we have. Merry Christmas to all! Thanks for this story Kevin. I’ve been feeling a tiny bit grumpy lately because this is the first Christmas in a long time where money is really tight, and this story makes me grateful for what we have. Merry Christmas to all!

]]> By: any mouse http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19269 any mouse Sun, 24 Dec 2006 03:09:22 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19269 lovely. my mom grew up very poor. one of her favorite childhood memories is being invited to share thanksgiving dinner with the neighbors. he was some sort of navy higher-up and they ate aboard his ship. it was the first time my mom had most thanksgiving foods (immigrants) and the first time (and one of few times) that she'd been able to eat till her belly was full. her eyes still tear up when she recalls that story, telling about the enormous feast laid out before them and how the neighbor helped her with gravy, saying she could have as much as she wanted. i'd love to be able to get in touch with that man's family and let them know how deeply that small gesture affected my family. lovely. my mom grew up very poor. one of her favorite childhood memories is being invited to share thanksgiving dinner with the neighbors. he was some sort of navy higher-up and they ate aboard his ship. it was the first time my mom had most thanksgiving foods (immigrants) and the first time (and one of few times) that she’d been able to eat till her belly was full. her eyes still tear up when she recalls that story, telling about the enormous feast laid out before them and how the neighbor helped her with gravy, saying she could have as much as she wanted. i’d love to be able to get in touch with that man’s family and let them know how deeply that small gesture affected my family.

]]> By: Steve Evans http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19268 Steve Evans Sun, 24 Dec 2006 01:58:06 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19268 Merry Christmas Kevin and everyone. Merry Christmas Kevin and everyone.

]]> By: lamonte http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19267 lamonte Sat, 23 Dec 2006 22:10:25 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19267 Kevin - Thanks for reminding us of what Christmas is all about. My father also grew up in Southern Idaho in the 30's. He often told us of "exchanging cards and handkerchiefs" with his brothers and sisters (8 of them) for Christmas but when I was a child I always assumed he was kidding. As I learned more about those times I began to think otherwise. I'm sorry you lost your father so long ago. My dad is still with us and his 87th birthday falls a few days after Christmas. His experience during the depression taught him to be fair with everyone and that has been the motto of his life. Where ever he can, he has tried to make things fair. I hope I have learned that much from him. He is a blessing in my life. Merry Christmas everyone. Kevin – Thanks for reminding us of what Christmas is all about. My father also grew up in Southern Idaho in the 30’s. He often told us of “exchanging cards and handkerchiefs” with his brothers and sisters (8 of them) for Christmas but when I was a child I always assumed he was kidding. As I learned more about those times I began to think otherwise. I’m sorry you lost your father so long ago. My dad is still with us and his 87th birthday falls a few days after Christmas. His experience during the depression taught him to be fair with everyone and that has been the motto of his life. Where ever he can, he has tried to make things fair. I hope I have learned that much from him. He is a blessing in my life.

Merry Christmas everyone.

]]> By: Ardis http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19266 Ardis Sat, 23 Dec 2006 20:05:44 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19266 Now *this* is what I wanted to read when I checked the blogs this morning. Thanks, Kevin. Now *this* is what I wanted to read when I checked the blogs this morning. Thanks, Kevin.

]]> By: Costanza http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19265 Costanza Sat, 23 Dec 2006 19:47:26 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19265 Very nice Kevin. Happy Christmas. Very nice Kevin. Happy Christmas.

]]> By: Ronan http://bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/23/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19264 Ronan Sat, 23 Dec 2006 18:14:17 +0000 http://www.bycommonconsent.com/2006/12/why-i-love-christmas/#comment-19264 I raise my glass of (Kinder) Punsch to your father, Kevin. Merry Christmas. I raise my glass of (Kinder) Punsch to your father, Kevin. Merry Christmas.

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