Of all the Christmases that I remember in more than eighty years, several have left an impression that have stayed with me for a lifetime.

One in particular, and maybe the one that has had the greatest impact, occurred when I was eight years old, on Christmas Eve, 1937.

I don’t think I have ever related this story to anyone before and I’m not sure why, because it was a special Christmas and has always touched me deeply.

December is a month that most people around the world express happiness and joy.  It happened to be a difficult month for our family while I was a young boy.

Having experienced the depression and the 1930’s drought during my early years, our family was hit by one more difficulty – illness.  My father had a number of strokes and they seemed to happen quite often in December.

1937 was no different, as he had suffered another stroke earlier in the month.

My Mother didn’t drive so even if she would have had money for buying Christmas presents, getting to a store was not too likely.

With no presents to exchange on Christmas Eve, the vision is as clear today as it was that evening when my Mother and I had gone to the basement of our home to add some wood to the furnace so we would be warm throughout the night.  At the bottom of the stairs we stopped and  gave each other unexpected gifts.

Mom handed me a Sears and Roebuck catalog and said I could choose one toy, for my Christmas present, to be delivered later.  There must have been some restrictions regarding cost as I chose an airplane.  I can still see that catalog picture of a radiant young boy throwing a little balsa wood plane and watching it loop and circle as it flew through the air.

My gift to her – “I love you Mom “  along with a hug  and  an expression of excitement for the gift I would be getting in the mail later.

With a smile of happiness on her face, a calloused hand wiped  away a tear of joy running down her cheek and  it was quite obvious she liked her gift, a gift she needed so badly that year.

In your journey through life I hope all of you have and will discover what a wonderful gift love and happiness can be.

Love and Merry Christmas