Christmas 2010

No Matter How Hard I Try, This Christmas Is Just Not The Same. This Is My First Christmas Without My Sister Brenda.
Today I Would Have Gotten A Call From Her. Wishing Me A Merry Christmas Just Like All The Christmas's Before. I Have Glanced Over At The Answering Machine A Couple Times, But Nothing.
This Is Her First Christmas With Jesus. Her Biological Mother And Sister Are Reunited Once Again In Heaven. One Day We Will Join Her In Everlasting Love And Peace.
When I Was A Young Boy Growing Up I Befriended An Old Woman Who I Came To Realize Had Nobody Who Visited Her. After Getting To Know "Grandma" Clifton Who Was Well Into Her Eighty's, Was Weak And Unable To Do Things For Herself. A Neighbor Lady Would Go To The Grocery Store, But Otherwise Her World Was Empty. This Past October I Read In The Newspaper Where Grandma Clifton's Son Passed Away At The Ripe Old Age Of 95. He Outlived Her In Years, Yet I Had No Sorrow In My Heart Of His Passing. I Never Met The Man.
It Was Christmas 1967, 43 Years Ago. I Got Up Extra Early That Day So I Could Fire Up Grandma Clifton's Furnace With Coal. I Told Her I Would Be Back Later That Afternoon. I Returned With Christmas Dinner In Hand. I Had The Biggest Smile On My Face When I Wished Her A Merry Christmas. I Handed Her A Small Gift And Sat Beside Her As She Opened It. I Told Her It Wasn't Much. She Looked Up At Me With Tears Rolling Down Her Face. It Was A Small Bottle Of Perfume, But For Her It Was The Best Gift Ever. That Day Is Etched In My Memory For Ever.
So Why Did I Choose Two Different People For My Christmas Blog? Both Of These Wonderful Women Made An Impact On My Life. Unforgettable Memories I Hold Close To My Heart. They Are Responsible For The Person I Am Today. I'm Not Sure Who I Would Be Today Without These Influential Ladies Of My Past.
My Memory Of Them Will Always Remind Me Of Who I Am And What Christmas Is All About.