REFLECTIONS

Gifts at Christmas time are important, but they do not outweigh the true meaning of Christmas which revolves around HOPE for the future, a HOPE that assures us of everlasting life.

The most important gift we receive at Christmas time is the gift of our Savior.

Our family is most grateful for the gift we received one day after Jesus arrived. Our gift was an 8-pound, 13 oz. baby girl named Tammi Jo.

I was fortunate to be in the delivery room at 10:30 p.m. on Dec. 26, 1972, when Tammi arrived. The umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, but the doctor and nurses used their medical skills to save her life.

A delivery room nurse asked us what we had named her. Not hearing correctly, she quizzed us: “Tubby Joan?”. We straightened her out quickly.

Childbirth is a wonderful gift regardless of when it occurs.

We have many traditions that we follow, and some involve buying that last-minute gift.

Pause, and think about the real meaning of Christmas. Again, it is much more than that toy we received, or that tasty meal that’s prepared. Toys are important, too, especially the ones given to the Toys for Tots program.

Harvey Farr and Nancy Farr of J & H Liquors have been leading the local Toys for Tots campaign for over 20 years. Their most recent campaign raised over $22,000 that was turned into gifts for needy children.

Again, remember the GIFT is important when we think of assurance we are given of eternal life.

Let’s celebrate together as families and say some prayers of thanks for the gift that was delivered on Dec. 25.

Our hearts should swell when we think about the birth of Jesus. We are so thankful for our gift that arrived 51 years ago. She’s not here in the physical form (1972-1995), but she lives forever in our hearts.

There are countless nativity scenes that reflect the birth of baby Jesus. It was told to me recently that a parishioner of St. Columbanus Catholic Church in Blooming Prairie traditionally placed Baby Jesus on Dec. 24.

One time, when the parishioner was going to be gone, he wrapped Baby Jesus in blankets and was walking away from the nativity scene and heading to a home just a few blocks away. A police car passed by, and the Blooming Prairie officer inquired as to where the man was going with that special gift.

The policeman then paused, too, realizing that this little baby is very special to many of us.

Merry Christmas to all!