THROUGH
MOUNTAIN MISTS
Early Settlers of
Their
Descendants...Their Stories...Their Achievements
Lifting the
Mists of History on Their Way of Life
By: Ethelene Dyer Jones
“Home is where the heart is,” we
hear often, and especially at
Christmastime. In mind if not in
journeying we turn toward home, the place where we knew love, security
and
peace in our lives. Indeed, “all hearts
go home at Christmas” if we were fortunate enough to experience a home
of
solidarity and nurturing.
This Christmas, may we each remember
home, and some of the foundational attributes learned there that have
made you
and I who and what we are today.
I learned the important lesson of
sharing with others at home at Christmastime.
My early childhood was spent in the throes of the Great
Depression. My farm family was hit by this
1930’s blight
on the American economy, but I do not remember that we suffered
immensely from
its impact. We had shelter, food,
clothing and the basic needs that made us comfortable enough. But through that time, I learned that one toy
from Santa on Christmas morning might be the extent of my gifts, and
whatever
that was, whether homemade doll with clothing to change her, a
checkerboard and
marbles, or a homemade “fox and geese” board, these were to be shared
unselfishly with siblings and cousins as we played together. Indeed, many happy hours were spent around a
winter fire enjoying simple games and story times.
This concept of sharing learned as a
child grew with me into later life. At
Christmas we are made very aware of places to share and people to
assist. We hear the ring of the Salvation
Army kettle
keepers, smiling in their cold posts beside stores in the mall. Their “Merry Christmas” is a reminder to help
many less fortunate than we. Maybe our
donation is too small in comparison to the great needs.
But with gifts from many, the extent of help
can be multiplied. This could be said of
helping in soup kitchens and with holiday meals for the unfortunate. Taking a name from the “Angel Tree” to
fulfill Christmas wishes from those depending on social services and
many who
assist can make someone less fortunate happy on Christmas Day.
“Be it ever so humble, there’s no
place like home.” We can light a candle,
figuratively, in the homes and in the lives of people and help them go
home
happier this Christmas by sharing through a generous heart.
Then Christmas reminds us of our
reasons for giving. It was at Christmas
that God “split time apart” (literally, into BC—Before Christ, and AD, Anno Domini, in the year of our Lord)
and visited mankind with the greatest gift ever known, “For God so
loved the
world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16).
Because God gave, we too can give with
generous hearts to help others.
In our Southern colonies, settled by
people from
With the Moravian settlers, most from
And we can’t neglect the gift of
music. From caroling groups moving from
house to house to great massed choirs in cathedrals and churches to
spontaneous
singing wherever Christians are gathered, music is a gift to the world
at
Christmas. Stories behind the carols
make the words even more meaningful as they fall gently on our ears at
Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, I will be at church
for the Candlelight Lord’s Supper, and as we light our candles, as many
of my
family members as can gather on one pew, surrounded by our friends and
neighbors worshipping with us, we will be reminded that we have the
light of
our lives to share in a dark world.
c2009 by
Ethelene Dyer
Jones; published Dec. 24, 2009 in The Union Sentinel, Blairsville,
GA.
Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
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