Christmas Day dawned bright and sunny
and Mom made us cottage cheese pancakes for breakfast.
We didn't have a tree
but one of the Grand Bay church ladies had given us
a ceramic tree
with lights
so Mom had that up on the coffee table
and all our presents were around it
arranged in piles.
My pile had two packages!
Could it be possible that I had gotten a watch
AND skates?
When it came my turn to open something
I opened the small package first.
It was a watch, but what a watch!
It was a man's watch
with a thick band
and a big face
that covered my whole wrist!
I was shocked that Daddy would look at that clunky thing
and think of me!
I was a Southern Belle
a magnolia blossom.
I would never wear a watch like that.
I put it back in its box
and back on the table.
Nobody noticed because we had moved on to Jimmy
and his present.
When it came my turn again
I picked up a heavy shoebox
and my heart went pitty pat
because this had to be my rollerskates!
But what rollerskates!
They were rusty
although I could see that Daddy had tried
to scrub the rust off
because there were scratches
and patches
of silver
and Daddy said,
"I found these at the dump, Lynna-Girl
the day I took all those broken chairs
out of the church cellar."
and he looked so proud of himself
that I choked back the tears
and said,
"These are real nice, Daddy.
Where's the key?"
and Daddy said, happiness in his voice
"I couldn't find it
but at least you have the skates."
and I realized then that Daddy had no idea
about life
and what it takes to live it.
The highlight of the day
was little Paul's firetruck
that had a siren
and a flashing light
which he screamed and laughed at
all day long.
We all got a kick out of that.
That night, at devotions
when it came my turn
to thank the Lord for my presents
I felt like I had indigestion
from Mom's pancakes
and couldn't choke up the words.
There was a long pause
and Daddy looked around at me
from where he was kneeling by the couch
and I prayed
fast
"ThankyoudearLordformypresents."
So then Daddy was happy
and he turned around and started in
thanking the Lord for our Christmas
and our Winnsboro church
and parsonage
and that his car brakes were finally fixed
and that Mom was feeling better.
Later, in bed
under the covers
I thanked the Lord that Mom was feeling better too
and for little Paul's firetruck
because it wasn't His fault
about my watch or my skates.
Music playing: It Came Upon a Midnight Clear
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Story taken from my actual diaries
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