Memories are such a part of who we are this time of year.  Like it or not, we are partially defined by the time we spent as children and later with our own families during the Holiday Season.   The power of a single word or phrase can often trigger not only memories of places and events, but also tastes and smells.   Do you any of these words bring back thoughts of your own Christmas past?

Angel, antlers, artificial tree.   Babe, baking, bethlehem, and buying.  Calling Birds (4), candlelight, candy cane, cheer, chestnuts, children, chimney, chocolates, Christ child, Christmas Eve and morning, cookies and crowds.

Dad, cancer, December, decorations, delivery, dickens, dinner, dolls, dressing and drummer boys.  Eggnog, elves, Emmanuel, excitement, expense.  Faith, family, father, fireplace, food, frankincense, Frosty (the Snowman), fruitcakes and fun.

Garland, geese-a-laying, gift card, gingerbread (cookie, house, man), Gloria, good will, God and guests.  Ham, happiness, holiday, home, hope, hot chocolate and hugs.  Icicle, infant, inn and invitation.

Jack Frost, Jerusalem, Jesus, jingle bells, Joseph and joy.   Kids, kindness and kings.  Lamb of God, laughter, letter (to Santa), lights, lists, lords-a-leaping, love and loved ones.

Maids-a-milking, magi, Mary, memories, Messiah, miracle, mistletoe, mom and music.  Nativity, maughty, mewborn, Noel, North Pole and nuts.  Observance, ornaments and ovens. 

Package, party, peace, pear tree, phone calls, plenty of presents, Prince of Peace, and punch.  Refreshments, rejoicing, relatives, religion, reindeer and Rudolph.  Saint Nick, Santa, Scrooge, sharing, shepherd, sister, sleigh, snow, surprises, sweaters and sweet potatoes.

Tinsel, tin soldier, teddy bear, toys, tradition, travel, trees and twinkling lights.   Understanding, unity, unselfishness.   Vacation, vocalists and volunteers.    Warmth, wassail, wise men, worship, wreaths and wrapping paper.

People older than me would remember the words of comedian Henny Youngman who said “I love Christmas. I receive a lot of wonderful presents I can’t wait to exchange”.

Who could forget the inscription left to George Bailey by his Guardian Angel in the Christmas movie classic It’s a Wonderful Life;  “ Remember, George: no man is a failure who has friends.”

President Calvin Coolidge once said “Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. “

The best words are stated in the Bible from the Book of Luke:  “And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”

No matter the words you choose, may you find peace and great joy this Christmas Day.