ADVENT ALPHABET....WINDING DOWN.....

 S =    STOCKINGS

I've noticed that a lot of the Advent and Christmas season involves feet and items associated with feet.  On St. Nicholas Day (December 6) many countries celebrate by having children leave out their empty shoes to be filled with candy and goods from St. Nick. NOTE TO CHILDREN be sure to wear the biggest pair of shoes you own on December 6 ---- I'm talking snow boots or hiking boots...the bigger and heavier the better...you never know when someone may choose to recognize this event. 

Here in the US we hang stockings by the fire with care.  The stockings have one's name on it or there may be a different theme for each family member such as Pirates, Flowers, Camouflage, hunting rifles, cookies, checkered pattern....you get the idea.....  

The rules in my family was we were allowed to "open" our stockings on Christmas morning, first thing, before any adult's morning cup of coffee or the family sitting down to breakfast breads or sticky buns. 

As were most things that special day, the stocking haul was stuffed full of delights and always included a large, ripe orange stuffed into the toe of the stocking to give it shape and  at least the hope of some health benefits.

T =  TIME

The song refrains "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" and I would agree that sentiment, for the most part, is accurate. We know this to be so that when you are a kid the day can't come soon enough. No matter how many miniature chocolates are placed behind the little windows on the Advent Calendar or the plethora of places one can hide that elusive "Elf on the Shelf" time just crawls in lead up to the big day. When you're older the time blazes by and stress ensues as the list of what still needs bought, baked or blessed grows. 

The day itself concludes and there is always the sense of....now what? Perhaps this year with isolation celebrations we may be in the mindset of "just get through it," yet, resist that understandable viewpoint and take the time to be and to notice and to reflect on Christmases past and, yes, on everything familiar that is missing this year and more so how to make the most of the moment.  Who knows there may be some new traditions that are begun.

U =    UNIVERSAL

When I lived and worked in Washington, DC, my hair stylist was a Moroccan gentleman. (How chic does that sentence sound??!!??) A few days before Thanksgiving I want for a haircut and was making chit-chat and I asked, "So, what do you usually do to celebrate Thanksgiving? What are some of the customs from your culture?"  He paused, looked, put down his scissors and said, "I'm Moroccan, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. That's a total American thing." 

OK, so I was a total...ummm, how to put this.....a total....I was....a moron. Not only did he give me a great haircut, he also handled my idiocy with grace. 

Christmas is a universal holiday celebrated around the globe. It's why one can shop Heifer International https://www.heifer.org and buy a Tibetan family a water buffalo or a family in Bangladesh a hive of bees. 

V = VISIT

This year visiting will happen virtually, in happy, waving drive-bys or on porches outside. Such are the times in which we journey.  

When I was a kid visiting relatives and friends and them visiting us was a ritual with an established routine. Like a Game Show Girl, one showed the gifts one received; conversation was continuous, the requisite cookie tray was presented, a pot of coffee was put on and the evening was quite enjoyable. 

In keeping with the spirit of the season, visits to the homebound were nearly mandatory as was the accompanying poinsettia. 

One of the fondest holiday visit memories I have was while pastor of a congregation in Erie, a member suggested and we agreed to participate in the "ANGEL TREE" program which provides gifts for kids who have a parent (s) who are incarcerated.  We were provided with names and requests and put on our Best Elf Selves!   

One request was from a seven-year old boy who wanted a bike. A parishioner worked at the local K-MART and managed to get the manager to donate a new bike and a helmet.  Showing up at that kid's house and presenting the new bike and helmet was a rush!  Mom cried. Seven year old boy in his Scooby-Doo printed pj's  raced onto the porch, jumped on the bike and took off down the city street.  This was Erie in late December...it was snowy and cold.  Mom grabbed the helmet and ran down the street after her son.  Like a runner in a relay, she managed to catch up to him as he kept pedaling and to place the helmet on his head.  She stood there smiling and watched her son ride his new bike up and down the street.  Gift received by all present.