By Mark Buckley
Through My Eyes
Last week, I was approached by Adam Stewart of The Hutch Tribune to write a column for the paper’s Christmas edition. It only took a moment to know what I wanted to write about: my childhood Christmas.
I was raised in Atchison during the 50s and things were much simpler. Children only received one or two toys and a stocking filled with oranges, apples, ribbon candy, and small toys. My family would gather in our living room to sing Christmas carols, eat sugar cookies, and drink wassail.
I remember one Christmas in 1965 when my family gathered around our black-and-white television to watch what was to become an all-time favorite Christmas movie, Charles Schultz’s “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Charlie Brown spent the entire show looking for the true meaning of Christmas. It was not about aluminum trees, fancy gifts, or even decorations.
It was Lucy’s little brother Linus who knew the true meaning. He turned to the audience and recounted the story of the shepherds from the Gospel of Luke, part of the same story my father would read to us each Christmas Eve:
“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
“And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
Linus’ speech ends there, but my father’s reading would continue:
“And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing, which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.
“And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.”
So, on this Christmas Eve, as your family gathers, remember the first gift given to mankind: a baby in a manger born to save all men. May your Christmas be blessed and your New Year bright!
Mark Buckley is the president of Toy Depot. He can be reached at 620-474-6100.