What is your favorite Christmas memory?

The fragrances of holiday scented candles, cookies baking, and the pine Christmas trees are always inviting when walking into the house this time of the year. Recently I was watching the Food channel, and they were talking about how different foods bring memories to our minds. The fragrances of baking our favorite cookies, certain foods cooking can remind us of a time and place of the past. The aroma of a turkey cooking can remind us of going to grandma’s house and play with our cousins, and visit our aunts, and uncles when we were young.

Many family favorite dishes that have been passed on through the generations, like Aunt Susie’s Christmas Jell-O salad, your mother’s dinner rolls, or grandma’s pecan pie bring back memories even though they are not with us anymore. In the picture, you will see my granddaughter baking Christmas cookies with me from a recipe that has been passed down through many generations in my family.

The other day I met a friend at the mall for lunch, and then we strolled through several stores admiring the beautiful Christmas decorations. The mall was very festive with the music and sparkling glitter of the season. As we were admiring the beautiful tree ornaments for sale in the stores, she said, “Sometimes I think it would be nice to get all new tree ornaments. But then the new ones wouldn’t have memories.” I agreed with her because each year as I get our salt dough angels, snowmen, and Santa ornaments my boys, and I painted about 40 years ago it reminds me of those treasured memories.

During this Christmas season, many families will be getting together for their Christmas celebrations consisting of food, gifts, laughter, and reminiscing. Let’s ask ourselves, “What kind of memories will we leave behind by the way we live our lives before our children and grandchildren.”

In her book, Legacy of Prayer, Jennifer Kennedy Dean, writes, “All that I invest in my relationship with the Lord will yield a hundred-fold increase and will provide spiritual shelter for future generations” (Mark 4:8). As we invest in our walk with the Lord, we are investing in the lives of our children, grandchildren, and future generations. One of the most significant gifts we could give them would be the memory of godly praying grandparents.

“Lord, help me to leave positive, godly memories for my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren”

My prayer is that you will have a blessed Christmas as you celebrate the bitrh of our Lord Jesus Christ.By Lillian Penner, Co-director of the prayer ministry of Christian Grandparenting network, lpenner@chrtistiangrandparenting.net