A CHRISTMAS REMEMBERED

By Lisa Ellingford

Christmas was always a very happy and festive time of year in our home. One of our yearly traditions was going caroling as a family. As a little girl, I particularly liked to sing “Jolly Old Saint Nicholas.” It seems Brian liked “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.” At each home we would sing a few songs about Christ, such as “Away in a Manger” or “Silent Night,” then we would sing some of our other favorites. We would always end by singing “We wish you a Merry Christmas!”
This particular year must have been around 1971. Christmas was just a few days away. I would have been 6 years old; my sister, Denise, was 12, Margo was 5, and my brothers, Brad and Brian, were 10 and 8. The Sunday before Christmas our car had been stolen from the church parking lot. Unbeknownst to the children, Santa’s delivery was in the trunk. I’m sure my parents were very concerned, with heavy and prayerful hearts. I look back now and I think of our young, growing family, my dad’s job change, my mom’s frugality and ability to make things stretch, and I realize there was not excess.
Here it was Christmas time and our family was in a dilemma. The decision must have been made to go forward with faith, carry on and trust in the Lord.
Thus, our caroling tradition would not be postponed. We bundled up to protect ourselves from the cold, snowy Idaho weather and walked to various homes in our neighborhood where we were invited in. We would sing four or five songs, extend our love and Christmas wishes, and be on our way.
When we had finished singing and were preparing to leave Bishop and Sister Hansen’s home, the Bishop pulled an envelope out of his pocket and handed it to my dad. They quietly exchanged a few words. The envelope had a substantial amount of money in it. My parents were very grateful.
Two days before Christmas our car was returned with the trunk’s contents undisturbed. When my parents went to return the money in the envelope to the Hansens, they would not receive it. Bishop Hansen instructed them, at some future time when they could, to do likewise.
I have never forgotten the feelings of unconditional love, brotherly kindness, and service that were embedded in my heart as I became aware of the situation surrounding our family and I learned of Bishop Hansen’s charge to my parents to “do likewise”. When I became aware of his mandate the spirit bore witness to me that this request extended to me as well.

I do not remember what I received for Christmas that year. However, the lessons I learned from this thoughtful and caring act of our neighbors has become clearly and forever written in my heart. I am grateful for the feelings of love that always come when I take the opportunity to follow the mandate which comes from our Savior and “do likewise.”

Lisa Ellingford