Christmas is almost here and and there is much for most of us to do, gifts to wrap, a few more cards to send out, even and few more decorations to put up.
It is also a time to reflect about the troubles in the world. We can’t help but to wonder about the message, which is “peace on Earth and good will towards men,” yet where is it?
It is times like these that I think a lot of of us perhaps reflect on a gentler time in our past. I, for one, found myself thinking about a Christmas when I was young and America was not so troubled.
It was 1957, we were in the Cold War atmosphere and I didn’t care nor understand such things as I was only eight years old. I was living in a corner house on 213th Street in Queens Village. There was my mother and my father and two blind borders my mother took care of.
We didn’t have much money but we always has a good Christmas. It was always full of love and caring and sharing and plenty of music especially during the holidays. You see my mother often said, “music was tonic for the soul.”
We had traditions like a lot of families do, one of which was to go out a few days before Christmas and to buy a fresh Christmas tree. That night my father and I were about to go out for the tree when my father’s car would not start.
It was a crisp, cold night and snow was on the ground and more falling. My father had an idea so my mother wouldn’t feel disappointed. We would take my sled to a place where they sold Christmas trees, about a half a mile from the house on Jamaica Avenue, and Francis Lewis Boulevard.
When we got there, my father picked out this beautiful six-foot tree, he tied it on top of my sled and we took it home through the snow, while we sang Christmas carols. We got back to the house where my mother had a special place in our living room across from the fireplace for our Christmas tree.
Our job was done once it was placed in a stand and my mother with tender loving care would decorate the tree with such love for every detail. It was a time when kindness and love seem to bounce from house to house and neighbors would greet each other with a Merry Christmas.
Christmas carolers would sing from house to house and churches would be filled with worshipers. I remember myself singing in a church choir and being in Christmas pageants where one year I played a shepherd and another year as a wise man.
I think Christmas meant a lot back than. I just can’t help but wonder if that kind of Christmas would return again. The picture perfect Christmas maybe laced with imperfections but it was I think a little better than.
I can’t help but wonder if America could return to family values and goodness and to show kindness to others and live out the true meaning of Christmas, which is “peace on Earth and good will toward men.”
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Mineola
