Through imagination, I spend Christmas Eve with the Waltons. The children have a strong bond with Daddy John; Mama Olivia, Grandpa Zeb and Grandma Esther. Enduring love and commitment keep them together.
They exchange simple gifts and have their fill of fresh baked cake, pies and cookies. Older girls, Mary Ellen and Erin make chocolate fudge; while youngest Jim Bob and Elizabeth wait to lick the bowl. Through precious memories, I spend Christmas Eve with the Fords.
My family included Dad Frank, Mom Betty, sisters Donna, Laureen, Gayla and brother Gary. Unlike the Waltons, Gramma and Grampa (I never called them Grandma and Grandpa) didn’t live with us but were very close by. They were only two houses away. Aging, they had moved in with Uncle Wallace and Aunt Jessie Ford. I remember looking through windowpanes anxiously awaiting their Christmas Eve visit. A brief walk in the Mycenae snow brought all of them to our house.
A group of excited shepherds walked to the Bethlehem stable.
“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger (Luke 2:13-16 KJV).”