December is a month filled with Christmas pageants, carol singalongs, lutefisk suppers, ringing the Salvation Army bell, remembering shut-ins and so much more.  

 

Last Sunday, I attended the Christmas program at Snake River Free Mission Church. The children were delightful as they shared the Christmas story and sang their hearts out. The program really blessed me. Many of my great nieces and nephews participated, making it extra special for me.

 

My great nieces, Hannah and Eleanor attend St. Cloud Christian School. The students shared the Christian meaning of the popular song The Twelve Days of Christmas during Chapel Time last week: 1. Jesus (a partridge in a pear tree); 2. New Testament and Old Testament (two turtle doves); 3. Faith (three French Hens), Hope, & Love; 4. Gospels (four calling birds) 5. Books of Moses/5 books of the Bible (five golden rings) ; 6. 6 days of creation (six geese-a-laying) ; 7. Gifts of the Holy Spirit (seven swans a swimming) ; 8. Beatitudes (eight maids a milking); 9. Fruits of the Spirit (nine ladies dancing) ; 10 Commandments (ten lords a leaping); 11. Faithful disciples (11 pipers piping) ; 12. Points of the Apostles’ Creed (12 drummers drumming).

 

Oakwood Church in Becker has their annual drive thru live nativity this weekend - Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21, 22 and 23 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. I am hoping to attend this wonderful event, where the true meaning of the Christmas season is brought to life. 

 

For many of us, December is a month of unending food and goodies. More importantly, it is a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus. 

 

Christmas seems to bring out generosity in people. I tend to think about the less fortunate more at Christmas. It is good to count our blessings instead of other people’s - and to remember not everyone has plenty to eat or a roof over their heads. Despite the news reporting negative events daily, such as thieves stealing Salvation Army red kettles, I firmly believe there are still many good people left in the world and the good Lord is still in charge. 

 

As Fred (Mr.) Rogers would say in the midst of frightening news and tragic events: “Look for the helpers”. Those are encouraging words in today’s world. 

 

I attended a wonderful concert at the Paramount Theater in St. Cloud last week. The show featured Steve March-Tormé, the son of the late Mel Tormé. Steve was a wonderful singer and shared many memories of his childhood, including stories about his father, who co-wrote the famous “Christmas song” (Chestnuts Roasting On An Open Fire) with Bob Wells on a blistering hot day during the summer of 1945. 

 

During his performance, Steve sang a wonderful selection of songs covering almost all genres. His music hearkens back to an earlier time and my mind drifted back to my carefree childhood days around Christmas time. There was an excitement in the air that was magical. 

 

I have always loved music. I started playing piano at age 10. Music makes me feel good, literally. Outside of music affecting the brain as an emotional experience, it is also a physical experience. It creates peak emotions, which increase the amount of dopamine, a specific neurotransmitter produced in the brain and helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers. Research suggestslistening to or singing songs can provide emotional benefits for people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. 

 

Many of you know that I lost my mom a couple weeks ago, just after Thanksgiving. This will by my first Christmas without her. During her final few months, mom endured a tremendous amount of pain. Music was such a gift for my mom in her final days. Singing hymns and reading from the Bible brought mom great comfort. In fact - for the last month of moms’ life, we had a weekly visit from Centracare Hospice music therapist Rachel Amberson. Just a few days before mom passed away, Rachel visited and sang hymns and old favorites with mom one final time, as my siblings and I, as well as multiple grandchildren sang along at her bedside. Rachel sweetly asked mom what all the old favorites and hymns made her think of. Mom smiled big as we sang along to ‘Red River Valley’ and chimed in: “It reminds me of the time a local man named Johnny was out dancing at Cottonwood Beach Pavillion near Palmer in the 1940’s. He apparently thought he had put Brylcreem in his hair, but had accidentally applied some kind of soap and when he started dancing his hair started to foam up and got really high on his head!" Music brings back many fond memories, no matter your age. 

 

My parents taught me the gift of giving blesses the giver as much as the receiver. 

 

Did we have family traditions? Of course. Rice pudding was always a staple at Christmas (my dad preferred his with raisins).  Christmas dinner usually included lutefisk and lefse. My parents also taught us to value things that money cannot buy - time spent with loved ones and the gift of simply being together. 

 

Somehow Mom and Dad managed to get all the chores done and the cows milked and still squeezed in time for Christmas shopping to get us kids gifts. 

 

My parents were very giving. Growing up in the Erickson home, holidays were not just for family. My mom always shared the gift of hospitality, which meant she invited anyone who had nowhere to be to celebrate holidays with our family. More than once, us kids asked mom: “Who is that?” 

 

In the late 1980’s, a very pregnant woman and her husband showed up at the Erickson farm on Christmas morning. The couple was on their way to southern Minnesota and had car trouble. They knocked on our door around 7:30 a.m. while we were peeling potatoes and baking buns for Christmas dinner. Mom instructed my older sister Ruth to give Mary and Joseph a ride home in our old Chevy Caprice. Mom didn’t realize they lived deep in the heart of Benton County (near Hillman). Ruth was about halfway to Foley when she realized the sherman tank was on empty. Ruth and the couple pooled $7 (before the days of credit cards and cell phones). They prayed a gas station would be open. By the grace of God, Brenny's filling station was open and Ruth was able to get enough gas to get the couple home. To show their appreciation, the couple sent Ruth on her way with a Christmas goose.

 

Even though my family will spend our first Christmas without our mother this year, she is still with us in spirit. It will be bittersweet. Every time we do something kind for someone or make delicious food for others, we will think of her! 

 

My goal is to bless others, as she did with her life.