Give me a lecture with a bunch of facts and figures, and I'll be asleep in seconds. But spin a tale that illustrates those facts, and I'm glued to edge of my seat, waiting for the next detail. I love a great story.
To be honest, I even love mediocre stories.
My grandmother was an excellent storyteller. She could remember funny jokes and silly tales...perfect for entertaining her wiggly grandchildren and generations of Sunday School kids. I especially loved to hear stories from her childhood, of growing up in a family of homesteaders on Vashon Island, Washington. Like most people back then, they were poor, and a good Christmas was when they got fresh oranges in their stockings. They picked berries in the summer, walked to school, and were strictly forbidden to play on Sundays. I loved how she'd laugh and pat her knee as she reminisced about those days.
We have few treasures that have been passed down from generations past, but we do have the thread of family stories. The funny thing is, to my grandparents and parents, they were simply telling about normal, unexceptional life as they knew it. But to us, it is a window into a world gone by - a glimpse that gives us appreciation for what they experienced and what shaped them. And it's part of what shapes US because it knits us together through their words.
Today's Small Thing is to tell a story. You might not think you are a good storyteller, but don't let that stop you. I'll make this easy by giving you a simple subject: a favorite Christmas memory from your past.
You may tell a child, a friend, a spouse. You may leave a comment. You may blog about it. Just share one memory that brings a smile to your face when you recall it. Was it a gift you received? The smell of a pine tree? A proposal? Making cookies? A favorite ornament? It doesn't have to be fancy or elaborate...just a snippet of your past that gives a glimpse into what has shaped YOU!
POINTS: 40 for "spinning a yarn" about a Christmas memory
What's your favorite Christmas memory to share?
