By SANDRA THAMES / Community Columnist

Christmas is not just for children. Yes, the gimme, gotcha stuff is geared to children, but that is not a real Christmas.

As a child I participated in Christmas pageants at Church Street Grammar School, First Congregational and First Presbyterian churches.

It was so exciting to be chosen so I always knew my songs or speeches to perfection.  The look of pride and pleasure on my parents’ faces was the high point of the night.  The homemade costumes were very creative, thanks to my Mother and Aunt Mary, and looking back I’ll bet a large part of their Christmas was the gift of music I gave them. I hope so.

Trips were a requirement so we would go to Brewton, Alabama for a big meal, usually held at my Aunt Jewel and Uncle Phillips house. There was food, food and more food.

We didn’t swap gifts – too many folks – but rather the whole day was for family.

Pine trees for Christmas, holly and mistletoe fresh out of the woods, cut-out snowflakes, construction paper chains, a few red bows we kept from year to year and we were little decorating kids.

My mom had a collection of pinecones spray painted a variety of colors and sprinkled with gold glitter.

Big gifts were not often given, but one year I got a Goodyear blue and white bike and my brother got a .22 rifle. Wow!

But Christmas, whether at our home, Granny’s or Grandpa and Grandma’s was always about being together; cooking, eating, catching up on the latest family news and sharing goals and dreams for the future, not about gifts.

Christmas past is a beautiful memory. I hope along the way my kids have been absorbing their own memories to share with their children and grandchildren someday.

Of course the ultimate gift of Christmas was and is Jesus Christ.

Hope you have been able to attend a church cantata, play or dinner during this season.

Of course the Christmas Eve Candlelight Service has always been my favorite.

Hope you have a very joyful and meaningful Christmas.