A Box of Christmas Memories

Today, Indiana minister Eric Hallstrom shares a memory of his mother’s efforts to make Christmas extra special each year. (Check back Friday through Christmas Day for more Christmas memories.)

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By Eric Hallstrom 

My mother was the “Cindy Lou Who” to the Christmas “Grinches” in our family. I have to admit, I may have been one of those grouches during my growing-up years. 

Mom always tried to add a bit of magic to the Christmas season. At times she grew frustrated when her four boys did not match her level of excitement, but she kept at it year after year. These days, as a father myself, I am so thankful for her persistence.  

My recollections of long-ago Christmases have faded over the years, but I have a box that holds memories of them all. Every year, in Mom’s effort to make Christmas special, she would add a Christmas ornament to each boys’ collection. She bought some of them, often during family vacations, and we also made several ornaments. On each ornament, hidden somewhere, is our name and the year we purchased or created it. There is a construction paper cutout of my hand, a porcelain teddy bear, a wooden train, and many more.  

As you look at the Christmas ornaments, they don’t seem all that special, and there is no connected theme. Alone, they are forgettable. But when you put them together, they tell the story of our family gathering year after year to celebrate the birth of our Savior. I now cherish those memories. 

I wish I could say I have always treasured my box of Christmas memories, but it was not until I found myself hanging up my ornaments with my own three boys that a sentimental light came on and my heart seemed to grow “three sizes that day.” Today as I open that box of ornaments, an appreciation for our traditions of faith and family togetherness almost seems to glow from it. Now, I’ve become like my mom in that I want to instill those traditions in my boys. Because of her, I see the value of persistence even in the absence of their excitement. 

I’m so thankful Mom tried to make Christmas special every year, just like I’m thankful my parents took us to church every week, even when we didn’t feel like it. What a blessing it was to have parents who handed down traditions of faith and family to children who couldn’t quite see their value yet! I hope to do the same for my boys, though they might not truly appreciate these precious Christmas traditions—the light may not “come on”—until they have kids of their own. 

Eric Hallstrom grew up in Tucson, Ariz., with his parents and three brothers. He now lives in Indiana where he serves with First Church of Christ in Greendale. He and his wife, Leanna, have three boys ranging in age from 7 to 11.