Quote from Forum Archives on December 15, 2005, 12:10 pm

Posted by: bigguyhereagain <bigguyhereagain@...>

 "Brown Bag Christmas Story"

 

        

 

  I asked our newlywed Sunday School class to share a favorite Christmas story,
  Carrie Fuller said, "Our family has one we call the 'brown bag Christmas.'"
  When she finished, I had to hear more. Two days later, I called a member of
  her family for more details.

 

  It was the early 1930s during the Dust Bowl days of Kansas, in the heart of
  the Depression. The Canaday family---Mom, Dad, 7 children---were having a
  tough time existing, so there would be no luxuries at Christmas that year.
  Mom told  the children to go outside and find a Christmas tree and decorate
  it. After a lengthy search, they returned with a dead branch, the only thing
  they had been able to find. They stood it up in a bucket of sand and decorated
  it with  pieces of paper tied with string. Little Judy, almost four, did not
  know how a Christmas tree was supposed to look, but somehow she knew it was
  not like that!

 

  As Christmas approached, the Canaday children, like children everywhere,
  pestered Mom and Dad about what presents they might get under their "tree."
  Dad  pointed out that the pantry was bare, that they did not have enough to
  live on,  and there certainly would be no money for gifts.  But Mom was a
  woman of faith  and told her children, "Say your prayers. Ask God to send us
  what He wants us  to have." Dad said, "Now, Mother, don't be getting the
  children's hopes up.  You're just setting them up for a disappointment."
  Mom said, "Pray, children.  Tell Jesus." And pray they did.

 

  On Christmas Eve, the children watched out the window for visitors, but no
  one came. "Blow out the lamp and go to bed", Dad said. "Nobody is going to
  come.  No one even knows we're out here."

 

  The children turned out the lamp and got in bed, but they were too excited
  to sleep. Was this not Christmas? Had they not asked God to send them the
  presents He wanted them to have? Did Mom not say God answers prayer?

 

  Late that night, when one of the children spotted headlights coming down
  the dirt road, everyone jumped out of bed and ran to the window. The commotion
  woke up Mom and Dad. "Don't get excited, children," Dad said. "They're
  probably  not coming here. It's just someone who got lost." The children kept
  hoping and  the car kept coming. Then, Dad lit a lamp. They all wanted to
  rush to the door  at the same time, but Mr. Canaday said, "Stay back.
  I'll go." Someone got out of the car and called, "I was wondering if someone
  here can help me unload  these bags." The children dashed out the door to
  lend a hand. Mom said to her  youngest, "Stay here, Judy, and help Mom open
  the bags and put up the gifts."

 

  A deacon from the church in town had gone to bed that Christmas Eve, and
  lay there tossing and turning, unable to g et the Canaday family off his
  mind.  Later, he said, "I didn't know what kind of shape you folks were in,
  but I knew  you had all those kids." He had gotten up and dressed and went
  around town,  rousing people from their sleep to ask for a contribution for
  the Canaday family.  He filled his car with bags of groceries, canned goods,
  toys, and clothing.  Little Judy got a rag doll which remained her favorite
  for years.

 

  With so much food, Dad wanted to have a Christmas feast, to spread it all
  out and eat as they had never eaten before. Mom, ever the caretaker, said,
  "No,  we need to make this last." And it did last, for weeks.

 

  The next Sunday, Mrs. Canaday stood in church and told what the members---and
  one deacon in particular---had done for her family. There was not a dry eye
  in the house.

 

  Years later, the oldest sister Eva wrote up this story about her family for
  a school project. Eva said, "We were so thrilled by all the wonderful things
  in the bags, for a while; we lost sight of the most special gift. The best
  gift that Christmas was not in brown bags at all. It was Mom's faith, as
  she taught her children to bring their needs to Jesus and trust Him to meet
  them. And a Dad's love that wanted only to protect his children from hurt
  and disappointment."

 

  When Carrie finished telling her story, she added, "Little Judy is my
  wonderful grandmother." Today, Judy Canaday Dryden lives in Sanger, Texas.
  As she  relived this event from seventy years ago over the phone, one could
  hear the tear  in her voice and feel her pride in being the recipient of
  such a precious  heritage from her mother and father.

 

  At Christmas, we celebrate praying mothers and caring fathers and believing
  children. We give thanks for sensitive deacons and generous friends and
  sleepless nights. And we praise God for the hard times that teach unforgettable
  lessons, stories of faithfulness that get told and retold through the years
  inspiring each new generation to place their faith in a loving Savior.
Author Unknown

 

 

  "Recipe for Christmas"

 

    

1 family praying together
1/2 cup Hugs4 teaspoons Kisses
4 cups Love
1 cup Special Holiday Cheer
3/4 cup Peace on Earth
3 teaspoons Christmas Spirit
2 cups Goodwill Toward Man
1 Sprig of Mistletoe
1 medium-size bag of Christmas Snowflakes (the regular kind won't do!)
Mix hugs, kisses, smiles and love until consistent. Blend in
holiday cheer,
peace on earth, Christmas spirits and good will toward men. Use the
mixture to fill a
large, warm heart, where it can be stored for a lifetime, (it never
goes bad!).
Serve as desired under mistletoe, sprinkled liberally with special
Christmas
Snow-flakes. It is especially good when accompanied by Christmas
Carols and family
get-togethers. Serve to one and all!

Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara

 

 

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