As a preschool child the Christmas wish list was great fun. Unable to read or write yet, my wish list consisted of a catalog with circles drawn around… well, frankly, every toy in the book (no dolls of course). Later on my list became a scrap of paper with some fast notes jotted on it that was subsequently hung on the refrigerator.

One thing was for sure, the older I got the more expensive the "toys" on my wish list got. Building blocks were replaced by hunting equipment. Coloring books were eclipsed by stereo equipment. Army figures paled in the presence of the desired computer games.

I think every year I had one or two joke items added to my list. One year I wanted the top of the line computer. Another year I asked for a car. I think I may have even asked for Fort Knox!

Ah, the Christmas wish list brings back fond memories of Christmases past. Warm memories. But ironically it stirs no memories of things that I received. In all honesty, if I were asked to name 10 things I’ve received as Christmas gifts over the years I would be hard pressed to do it.

There are some standout items that I’ve gotten over the years that made such an impact on me that I’ll remember them forever. I remember one year I got a miniature pool table. That was a blast, but I lost a lot of the pieces. Another year I got a .22 caliber rifle for small game hunting. I think I remember that one because it’s still being used today.

Generally speaking though the things I remember about Christmas cannot be touched. I remember going Christmas caroling and having a strange vibrato in my voice because my innards were shaking so badly. Then again I remember crawling into warm cars and driving back to the church for some hot chocolate and homemade treats.

I remember the family gathered in every nook and cranny of our small living room because A Christmas Carol was making its annual appearance on television. Of course the same gathering took place when It’s a Wonderful Life aired as well.

I remember the soft glow of the candles at our church’s candlelight service. Touching stories were read and songs were sung. The smell of hot apple cider filled the air before the service was even done. I remember how heavy my heart weighed as in spite of the commercialism of the holiday I focused on the real reason Christmas is worth celebrating.

I remember what seemed like 30 cousins curled up on the living room floor of my grandparents’ house, huddled in whatever blankets my grandmother could find. There was a closeness about those sleeping arrangements that has never been matched since. I also remember waking in the middle of the night with the furnace running and squeezing myself behind Grandpa’s chair to soak in the heat.

I remember when my mother worked for the nursing home we would do a short Christmas concert for the residents on Christmas Eve. We’d sing a bunch of favorite Christmas songs as a family, we kids would sing a couple ourselves, and one of us would read some scripture. At the close of the concert we would walk through the crowd shaking hands, receiving kisses from sweet old ladies, and looking into the smiling eyes of people who perhaps have not seen their own grandchildren for quite some time and won’t see them this Christmas either.

I remember bundling up Christmas morning, loading ourselves and a bunch of gifts and goodies into our car, and driving north to spend Christmas day with my paternal grandparents. The trip to Grandpa and Grandma’s was filled with anticipation and we would get overly excited when telltale landmarks would go by thus signaling that we were nearing our destination.

Christmases as a kid hold so many heartwarming memories. My eyes are getting misty and I’m choking a little bit even as I write this.

Now I am grown and am myself a father. As I remember the warm memories of the Christmases of my childhood I want my children to make some warm memories of their own. However, from past experience those memories will not be formed around a single item they receive. Those memories will form around the moments they will have.

I wish for this Christmas and many Christmases to come that my children will fondly remember making Christmas candy with their mother. I wish that they will look back with a smile when they think of grandfathers leading their extended families in prayers of thanksgiving for God’s precious gift. I wish that memories of sledding parties and Christmas lights would bring a chuckle to their hearts. I wish that my children will look back on their Christmases and their eyes would reflect the glow of the lights that are hung to celebrate the season. I wish they would remember the beauty of the tree exquisitely trimmed for the holidays.

In short, I wish for my children that they have a wealth of Christmas memories to look back on that will bring a smile to their face and a tear to their eye. I wish that the giving of things not be allowed to cloud the most important aspects of the Christmas season. I wish the cold of the Christmas holiday would bring great warmth to their hearts. And I wish that their lives be forever changed by their memory of Christmases gone by, for that is what Christmas is all about. God sent His Son to us so our lives would never be the same again.

I wish you a Merry Christmas.