Tuesday, December 11, 2007

A Child's View of Christmas

My eyes opened wide as I peeked out from under my quilt. My nose was cold and the bed was like a warm cocoon, but the excitement was bubbling up from deep inside of me. The sunlight was just starting to peek around the bedroom blinds. No matter how warm it was in bed I could not stay there one more moment. I folded back the covers so very slowly because it was frosty in the house. As my feet touched the icy floor I hurried to my robe and slippers nearby.

The cold seeped through me even with my robe wrapped around my heavy flannel nightgown. I tiptoed to the window to see if it had snowed during the night. I saw that Jack Frost had painted beautiful pictures all over the window panes, but one spot he had missed and I was able to see the blanket of new-fallen snow. A smile came to my lips and a soft little giggle escaped. This was definitely the most perfect of days!

Another giggle escaped my lips it was so very hard to be quiet when one was only 6 years old and filled with such excitement. Why the whole world should have been up with the breaking of dawn; but everyone in my home was fast asleep. That meant I had to be so very quiet as not to wake them. Slowly I crept to the front room. It was so very hard to walk slowly and carefully; the floors were wooden and they creaked.

It seemed like forever but I finally made it to the front room! There by the window was the most beautifully decorated Christmas tree. There were big bright light bulbs and colorful Christmas ornaments but it was the tinsel that set the sunlight dancing round the tree. I snuggled into a chair; took the afghan and wrapped it around myself for added warmth. I studied that tree so very carefully. While I was studying the tree I pondered on all the events of the month that had led up to that day in December. I could hardly stand all of the excitement in the air! Finally, I heard my Mother in the kitchen. Before she called me to breakfast I gave out a huge sigh; would this day never end? For a 6-old year December 24th was the longest day of the year!

(Those events took place on December 24, 1953, but the impressions of that particular day are forever stamped in my mind. Now the month of December rushes by ever so rapidly but in our youth time did stand still!)

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

I love this article. Just love it. My favorite of any you have written. - Mary

Anonymous said...

who wouda thunk it?? has left a new comment on your post "Christmas Presents":

Well said, Thank you sister, amen

Anonymous said...

It took me back to my childhood - Thank you - Susan

Anonymous said...

This is the best article on the Blog! - Darlene