By Guinn Sweet

sweettalk@mineralwellsindex.com

Christmas can display many faces – celebratory, spiritual, social, familial, giving – as we approach the actual day of acknowledgement. That of our family has seen some of each face over the years, but this one has been a bit different.

Our family, as it grows older, also grows more numerous as children have children, then grandchildren and their children have great-grandchildren and on to great-great-grandchildren. Of course, after so long the last segments refer only to our (Colon’s and my) relationships. With the mob of people come greater demands for gifts for each one as we observe the traditions of Christmas giving to each member in the family.

This year we took a different tactic in that we previously have given everyone a gift card from Wal-Mart and/or Target stores, but we had to make a practical decision for change this year.

The economy, you know.

I think, in looking back at this past Christmas holiday, that this national, if not world-wide, economic dip came at just the right time. It certainly has accommodated our debtors, made the future look brighter to our banker and has erased some brow wrinkles that had already begun to form in anticipation of our this year’s likely spending.

Sometime during the past couple of months, random telephone conversations between the various members of the family has revealed a common design for Christmas Day, 2008. It became obvious that we were more inclined to come together for a day of sharing love, concerns, experiences, spiritual beliefs and time rather than socks, robes, underwear, pictures and all those other things of which we have more than enough, and which we buy for ourselves all during the year as we have need of them, or as we outgrow/wear them out and discard them.

We all agreed that we would meet at the home of Kevin and red-headed, green-eyed daughter, Coleen, near Fairfield, Texas. We would also spend a minimum on small, but meaningful, gifts for the littler members of the family, making sure they did not replicate those things the children either already have plenty of, or don’t need in the first place.

For instance, Colon and I enjoyed giving some of our coin collections and other interesting hobbies to the older children. The little guys were assured all the toys from other grandparents and parents. We just showered them with love and attention, which seemed to satisfy each one of them. For birthdays later, we will probably give some things that they have broken/worn out or didn’t get this holiday.

We invested in food, with everyone bringing a favorite goodie to share. We reminisced and told stories of yesterday. We looked at picture albums and I identified those of our youth that needed naming. And we gave thanks to the Lord for having brought us all this far without grave incident or problems. We are a fairly healthy, relatively successful group, each with either well-paying jobs or profitable businesses.

For Colon and me, we just have a very gratifying retirement, with my writing and his fiddling with the car and pickup, overseeing the workings of the plumbing and electricity and building an occasional addition to our home – the latest being a deck on the back of the house, which we will enjoy when the weather gets warm.

We shared information regarding our hobbies, we each related the activities of our various churches. We rejoiced with the news that there will soon be two new grandsons-in-law to add to our family, and we took turns holding and “doddling” on our knees the newest great-grandson, Ranan Bennett Sweet. The older teens were treated to other activities (fishing in the pond, riding the paddle-boat, watching the waterfall, riding the horses) of their choice, but with no pressure toward anything. The young guys spent the afternoon playing a video football game that looked so real it was spooky.

It was a relaxing time, Colon and I had gone over there on Monday before Christmas, so I had to bring up some energy to help with the preparation for receiving so many people and so much food, but I was able to work crossword puzzles to the extent that I was totally relaxed by Christmas Day. There were about 25 of us from ages 85 to nine months, making quite a mix.

In the final analysis, there were those who brought gifts to the old folks and to the little folks, regardless of our agreement, but the best gift of all was that most of us had already received that Most Incomparable Gift, the One shared with mankind on that first Christmas Day, our Lord Jesus Christ. It’s a blessing and great satisfaction to know, at this point in our lives, that when we meet Him in His home, again we will all be there and the celebration will be even greater!