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Christmas Day each of us will repeat the rituals that we have held dear for years, if not generations: Children will scream with delight as they dive under the tree for gifts. The dog will chew up wads of discarded wrapping paper then stand sentry at the table looking for a morsel of food to fall off the table.
Each of our mornings will be intensely familiar and personal. Yet across the world many households are engaging in the same ritual. Not all in exactly the same way, but all in celebration of the birth of Christ which is truly what Christmas is all about.
While not all celebrate the spiritual on this day, the secular aspect of Christmas morning spreads across many countries and cultures. So what's happening in Dodgeville, Mineral Point, Cobb and all the areas that we cover, also unfolds with my extended family in Karlsruhe Germany and in other parts of the world.
Children and grandchildren provide much of the Christmas magic, as we watch the special morning unfold through their eyes. Husbands and wives, partners and significant others catch quiet moments to exchange gifts especially picked out for the other. Family members laugh at the gag presents, while others engage in rambunctious white-elephant gift exchanges.
The unique moments create the longest memories. No matter how old we are, we all have those special memories of Christmas when we were growing up. A special spot is in my heart thinking about all the Christmas' I spent with my grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. It was a household full of havoc, but the memories still put a smile on my face.
Then it's on to the table and those foods that define each of our Christmas'. I still miss my Grandma's special cranberry pudding she made at Christmas. A recipe that nobody has ever been able to duplicate because she had it in her head. We all have some food though that is traditional on Christmas.
Whether down the block, across the U.S. or an ocean or two away, it's the same for other families. The street sweeper in France opens his packages. The teacher in Kenya shares gifts. A pen pal in Korea sings with her parents and siblings.
Yes, today's ritual of exchanging gifts is part of the fun. But more important, we will remember that family member who is no longer here. I miss the banter with my sister, my grandpa's laughter and my grandma's eye rolls as her family members teased each other. We will recall that Bethlehem Christmas of long, long ago. We will take a deep breath and soak in the moment and those memories.
We will end the day with a new sense of hope and joy. Once more, the uniqueness of the season has touched us and lets us not forget what the day is about, but also makes us realize how important our families are and we should cherish every moment with them.