Christmas is over, the true meaning remains with me

MANAGING EDITOR EMAIL/ don@ssnewstelegram. com

It only took me a little more than six decades to get the true meeting of Christmas. Duh to myself.

All it took is taking a closer look at my life and getting reminded about what was TRULY important.

After going through some of life's tribulations the last few years, like Covid, a once in a century snowstorm and dealing with unemployment, I felt like the poster boy for tribulations. I thought I'd been placed in some Old Testament plague. Watch out for the brimstone.

I lost my job, my dog died and then it all came tumbling down.

But I refuse to look at it that way.

Many, many people had it a lot worse than I did. I never got Covid, but my wife did.

We all recovered fairly quickly. I don't remember going through any particularly joyous holidays during that span, but the key is we made it through with the help of The Lord, our church, family and friends.

That's why I can look back at the Christmas of 2022 and smile. Even feel warm and fuzzy about it.

I didn't rack up huge sacks of loot or material things, but I realized how rich I really am.

I'm certainly grateful and count my blessings instead of sheep each night.

Christmas just kind of snapped me into that frame of mind. To help others and be kind is so very important.

I recalled a Christmas, about 35 years ago down in my native Cherokee County.

We were traveling between relatives on a cool December night. Lots of rain was falling, but no snow.

It was still enough to pool up in stretches on Highway 69.

I was going about 50 mph in my little red Escort loaded down with my wife, daughter and Christmas packages.

Then out of nowhere, I lost control of my car, started spinning and slid off the roadway into a deep ditch between Rusk and Jacksonville.

My car, thank good ness, did not overturn. But it came to rest at the bottom of the ditch, fender deep in mud and muck.

I guess the prayers I had said seconds earlier as my car went skidding out-of-control on the slick pavement paid off.

We did all survive the incident without a scratch, my daughter still dozing in the child seat in the backseat next to my wife.

We got our wits together and looked at the situation, it seemed as dismal as the December drizzle.

Then up at the top of the huge ditch, we saw car lights and people waving at us.

We waved back and slowly climbed out, messing up our Christmas outfits, but we reached the pavement.

The kind strangers in a Suburban said they saw us spin around and go into the ditch. They feared for the worst.

They gave us a ride to my grandparents house where all my family was congregated for the holidays.

After some calls and a little financial persuasion I found a wrecker driver to help us out. Despite the Dec. 25 date and damp, cool conditions.

I figured the car would be broken, but the Ford tough compact survived the event. Then with a little cleaning and power washing, all the mud came off and we went back to town to assure relatives we were okay and heading back on the road again, going a little bit slower after being shaken by the hydroplaning experience.

Sure, we paid the wrecker driver to come out on a wet holiday evening, leaving his Christmas table behind.

But I think he saw the desperation in my face and how he could truly help out a young family in their time of need.

The Christmas spirit, the real Christmas spirit, is something wonderous and joyful.

I started late with the feeling, but only got the Christmas bug in full strength visiting with my family, this Christmas.

I have to admit I have taken my family for granted all these years.

We visited our parents in Rusk and it was a blessing for sure.

They needed no gifts after getting to see my two-year-old grandson for the first time.

My mom, now 90 years old, smiled like she'd won the lottery. She remarked how he 'cut his eyes' when his name was called and other family traits.

It was almost therapeutic to see my grandson play in the floor where I used to set up Hot Wheels tracks decades earlier. My son even dug out an old riding horse that has survived many kids and grandkids over the years.

My grandson, Bentley, grabbed the large plastic horse by its well-worn leather ears and started off bucking across the crowded living room.

It was a heart-warming traditional Wallace family experience. You had to be there to see the excitement in the two-year-old's face and joy it brought to others.

We finished our Christmas rounds, visiting relatives, opening a few gifts.

For the first time in many years, the presents meant less and less to me in comparison with the relationships.

It was like I had a Jimmy Stewart movie moment and I realized, at my advanced age, that I really do have a wonderful life.

It's truly amazing when you take a look back. All the people who have meant so much about the adult you turned out to be.

The kind uncle who took you golfing, the teacher who tried valiantly to get Algebra to sink in your head.

The relatives who were always there. Even available when you skinned your knee and later ready to help when you slid off the road on Christmas.

Now Christmas is over for another year. I'm sad to see it go, because I feel like I got a lot of deep meaning from the holiday this year.

I guess I know why the true meaning of Christmas is so special.

I wish you all a Happy New Year and hope your Christmas was just as wonderful as mine.