
The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid?” —Psalm 27:1
I remember another childhood Christmas. We lived in southern California while all of our family lived in the Midwest: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and more. Over the years we would drive those many miles to visit family usually in the summertime. This year for some reason we chose to spend Christmas with them.
Whenever we drove those many miles my parents wanted to spend the least amount of our time on the road with more time for family fun. We would spend the night in a motel, get breakfast and hit the road. Mom would make sandwiches in the car for lunch as the two of them would take turns behind the wheel. We would stop for dinner and then continue driving long after dark. My Dad liked Nash cars which made it so the seats would lie flat so the passenger side became our bed while they continued down the road. We were out in the middle of Kansas farm country one night in a snowstorm when the inevitable car trouble happened. A fan blade had broken off and punctured the radiator. My Dad pulled over to the side of the road and hiked to the nearest farmhouse some distance away. This was the 1950s and the farmer was more than happy to help my Dad. They somehow plugged the radiator hole, filled it up with water and got us on the road to the nearest town with the needed amenities. I’m sure the farmer’s wife sent along some Christmas goodies for us kids.
The next morning the car was repaired and while Dad waited, the rest of us explored the little snow-covered town and did a little more Christmas shopping. We arrived at my Aunt and Uncle’s farmhouse in Missouri in time for Christmas Eve and woke up Christmas morning to a blanket of new fallen snow. Lots of fun hiking to the bathroom outhouse and making our own footprints in the snow on the way.
Christmas dinner was in Kansas City with more family to share in the festivities. It is one of my favorite Christmas memories, giving thanks for family and a safe journey.
God of love, during this season we remember another long journey when Joseph and Mary spent long days on the road to Bethlehem. We thank you for the miraculous plans you made for that very special family and for the greatest gift to all mankind, Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
Lenni Stickles