It is getting to that time of the year when memories of past Thanksgiving and Christmas begin to fill our minds. It will soon be seven months since Eva went to a better address and I have been feeling like I had moved beyond most of my grieving her loss of her being with me. This is my first Thanksgiving without her and soon it will be my first Christmas without her here with me.
I can only remember a little bit about Christmas in 1963 when we were dating but not engaged yet. However, my memories of Christmas in 1964 are much clearer. I remember us going to different stores looking for that tree that would go in our apartment. I remember buying a few decorations for the tree. I have memories of us putting up the tree and how it looked. I remember going shopping for gifts for the family. I remember the excitement of our first Christmas together.
Only one year later, on our second Christmas together, we moved into our first home, and we did not put up a tree that year. We had a great Christmas just being together in our home. For our third Christmas, we had to find that perfect tree and we bought many decorations for the tree and our house. We had already begun setting up one of the bedrooms for our first child that would be born in a few months.
Over the 58 Christmases, we shared, they all have special memories, and yet different. Last year, I did not put up a tree because of the changes we made due to Eva’s needs. However, I did set up a display of many of the Christmas Village buildings where she could see and enjoy them.
This year, I will have a tree and do my best to carry on, but it will be different without Eva here with me. We will have our family meal for Thanksgiving, and we will have family Christmas; however, this year we will give thanks for all of those years that God blessed us with and celebrate that we know she will be singing of God’s Grace in Heaven.
Make this a Christmas you will remember and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with someone. May God bless you and keep you close.
Discover more from RICHRAY BLOG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
