Cassie Graham
contributing writer
The Way It’s
Always Been
I’VE GROWN UP IN A VERY TRADITION-ORIENTED FAMILY
and the Graham customs of old have been instilled in me as well. There
is no holiday more traditional than Christmas. When Dad cooks his
Christmas barbeque, we both agree that it must be cooked in a pit over
blackjack wood—the same way my grandfather Jason did. No electric or
gas cookers can be used for the sacred Christmas hog. Throughout the
holidays, we keep a fire roaring in the fireplace in our den. Wood has to
be chopped and lugged in the house, but I wouldn’t have gas logs for
anything in the world. The crackle of the fire and smell of burning wood
makes my heart so content; that’s just the way it’s always been.
Aunt Anne’s famous bourbon balls are always a hit among the Graham
of you to stay home and not be on the road! There is
about these times—to create mental snapshots so we
clan and Grandma Thessie makes these peanut white chocolate candies
always a last-minute trip that has to be made and I am
can remember them to share with our grandchildren.
I can’t resist. It wouldn’t be Christmas without hot chocolate, cider and
not putting up with that this year.” “But Daddy, that’s
I’m going to embrace the moments this Christmas of
eggnog. Even though they disgust me, late Aunt Grit loved those infa-
just the way it’s always been!” I exclaimed. But, he is
Mom dancing through the kitchen to Christmas music,
mous Claxton Fruitcakes. So, I must have a fruitcake, even if I don’t eat
right. There is no reason we should be out and about
of my uncles playing pranks on Dad, of my brother’s gag
it; that’s just the way it’s always been.
when we need to be home with the family. If we don’t
gifts and of my grandmother’s meticulous bow making.
I have helped my other grandmother, Miss Droop, put up her
have “it all done” by Christmas Eve, then why push
I’ve always thought that Christmas Eve is the one
Christmas decorations since I was a child. She is barely five feet tall, so
ourselves to the point of exhaustion and stress? This is
time during the year when the world is still. I pray it is a
hanging ornaments on the tree can be a daunting task. I like hearing
not the way Christmas is meant to be.
silent night, free of the violence, bitterness and anger
stories she tells about past Christmases as we adorn her tree with gold
I think we as Christians get so caught up in trying to
that seem so rampant in our world today. It is so import-
balls and break a few in the process. Breaking ornaments is inevitable;
“do” all sorts of Christmas activities to the best of our
ant to hold our loved ones dear, to tell them that we love
that’s just the way it’s always been.
abilities that we lose our breath and Christmas spirit
them, forgive and be forgiven, so that we can experience
Recently my church, Olanta Baptist, has started a new tradition of
altogether. From Christmas pageant practice to
the true magic of Christmas and Jesus’ peace and love.
caroling to the shut-ins. We get a carpool together and drive to the
Nutcracker rehearsal, from party to party and one
The peace that comes from knowing God and the reas-
homes of our shut-ins to sing Christmas carols in their homes. Seeing
parade to another—I wonder, when does it stop? When
surance that comes from our gift of eternal life are pres-
their faces light up with joy is enough to melt my heart and make me
can we sit by the fire, sip on cider and enjoy each other’s
ents we can unwrap again and again as children of God.
cry. I get so emotional at Christmas, even during the cantata at church—
company? It isn’t difficult to get so caught up in trying
So take a moment this season—to breathe, to walk
that’s just the way it’s always been.
to have it all together that we end up missing out on the
through the woods and smell the crisp scent of pine, to
Dad told me that his one Christmas wish is for my mother and
quiet, silent night or the special moments. The events
laugh with your children, to gaze at your tree of green,
me to not leave the house at all on Christmas Eve. “I want all of the
that happen over and over again become common-
to smile to yourself, to appreciate “the way it’s always
shopping to be done, all of the groceries purchased, and for the two
place, but we need to pause and recognize what we love
been,” and to above all, embrace the Christ Child.
20
DECEMBER 2015
SHEMAGAZINE.COM