6 hours Ago By Ann Bailey
Besides my grandmother’s and great-grandmother’s dishes, glasses and tableware settings that fill the cupboards of our home and my grandfather’s and great-grandfather's tools, oil cans and grease guns stored in the farm shop, our family farmstead houses a variety of things that are stamped with the names of small businesses of bygone days. Back when neon angels, Christmas trees and Santas hung on the light poles of my hometown’s bustling main street lined with grocery stores, clothing stores and implement dealers, the proprietors of those businesses not only sold their wares, they gifted the loyal customers who bought from them throughout the year ADVERTISEMENT The household gifts were practical ones: coffee mugs from the bank that’s changed owners several times, creamer pitcher and salt and pepper shakers from a variety of farm cooperatives. But to preserve them, I’ve chosen to display them in our china cabinets.
We still use the ice cream scoops, a bottle opener and a gravy ladle from other businesses that were in my hometown when I grew up but are now history. Outside, though the mercury in the thermometer from the cooperative elevator tacked to the walls of our machine shed long ago has dried up — it’s so old that the phone number stamped on it is three numbers — it is a reminder of the days when my grandfather and great-grandfather farmed. Those items make me wistful for days gone by, when small towns were retail centers where families bought groceries, clothes and did their banking and farmers purchased their feed and seed, fertilizer and implements locally and sold their crops at the local elevator.
Of course, not only has the number of small-town merchants diminished in the past several decades, but so has the number of farm families who were their customers. That’s another change that makes me nostalgic. I remember when I was growing up, our family eagerly looked forward to the variety of goodies that would be on our counters after my mom exchanged her cookies, bars and home-made candies with the neighborhood’s moms.
Before I get too immersed in memories of “the good old days,” though, I refocus my thoughts on the present and future, which makes me realize that, though things have changed — dramatically in some ways — the important things that are at the core of Christmas have not. The joy, peace and love that the birth of our Savior brought to the world and that exists in the hearts of the people who love Him are beyond time and very much still real. We may not have as many businesses in our small towns, but the owners of the ones that are there work hard to meet the needs of their customers and to develop a sense of community through activities, such as holiday celebrations, for families.
ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, though the number of neighbors has dwindled, the ones we do have are kind and generous, and we know we can depend on them to lend a hand anytime we need one. I am grateful, too, that the ties I have with the siblings with whom I grew up still are strong and that we will spend time together in person, talking on the phone or texting one another during the holiday season. The love we share is as strong now as it was when we all lived under the same roof, and I count that as one of the best gifts I could receive.
The family that Brian and I created also will be together at Christmas, and this will be the first one we will celebrate with Aria, our 5-month-old granddaughter, which will make it extra-special. Of course, the most important is the “reason for the season,” God sending his son to Earth more than 2,000 years ago to save us from sin — that's what we will celebrate here on Earth with our family on Dec. 25.
I also will think about my brother, parents, grandparents, great-grandparents, other family members and friends who will be rejoicing in heaven on Christmas. Though looking back at the way things used to be and the physical gifts that represent them can take me on a melancholy trip down memory lane, turning instead toward the gift God gave us more fills my heart with joy. The impact of that gift, unlike earthly presents, will last through eternity.
Wishing you timeless gifts of faith, joy, hope and peace this Christmas. Ann Bailey lives on a farmstead near Larimore, North Dakota, that has been in her family since 1911. You can reach her at anntbailey58@gmail.
com..
