What are the little things that bring you joy?

My guest today is Susan Holt Simpson with a message about the joyful incidentals–the things that are small in the grand scheme of things, but the most precious as time passes.

Joyful Incidentals

What are your favorite holiday memories? My sons are finally old enough to answer this question, but their answers were not at all what we expected. They don’t have fond memories of reading holiday stories with cocoa and marshmallows. Breakfast with Santa? When we stood in line for an hour? Nope. The time we block printed wrapping paper with potatoes? Blank stares.

Seems like simple incidentals most often make the list of special holiday memories.

I have my own list, and you probably do too.

Recently I asked my mom, “Remember when you used to make a pan of chocolate fudge on New Year’s Eve? I remember being so excited, waiting for a bite of warm fudge!” She was silent for just a second, then said, “Did I do that?”

The oddest things get stuck on the lint screens of our memories. [Click to Tweet]

Here are some of mine:

– Our holiday table always included a bowl of nuts with Nutcracker with Picks. We spent hours prying open shells and making piles of nutmeat treats.

– The thickly perfumed atmosphere of the downtown department stores at street level (perfume, gloves, purses…) charmed my little girl heart. What could be more  wonderful than riding those narrow Shillito’s escalators? The adventure of going to a new floor rivaled the dread of getting caught in those ever-opening and closing stairs.

– My dad, the Popcorn Master, heated kernels in a steel pan, added plenty of salt and butter, and served it during Charlie Brown’s Christmas. No DVR, you had to be on the couch at the right time or you missed it. Unthinkable!

– Mom, an incredible seamstress, created a special dress for me to wear every Christmas Sunday of my childhood. The dress was a surprise, not revealed until the time came to slip it on and head to Sunday school as the luckiest girl of all. 

Pondering my list, it’s easy to see each memory as a moment of joy or excitement—unusual events of shared experience. My parents would possibly consider these simple incidentals, small details in the jumble of December. Things done out of necessity or even duty.

During the holiday season, I try to keep this in mind with my own family. While it’s important to be intentional in creating holiday memories and traditions, the likely take-away for their Most Loved List will be the joyful incidentals. And I’m OK with that. 

What would your list of most-loved Christmas memories include? It might be fun to share them around the table during the Advent season. You’ll be surprised what makes the list!

Tell us some of your joyful incidentals in the comments.

 

Susan Holt Simpson is a freelance writer living in northern Kentucky. She has been married to her childhood sweetheart for twenty-seven years, and they are enjoying the adventures of life with three mostly-grown sons. As a literacy coach and a mothering mentor, Susan’s volunteer work in the local community keeps her busy. She has written for Focus on the Family and Guideposts, and writes online about parenting, gardening, and photography. Visit her at Sweet Annabelle Blog or find her on various social media including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest.

 

 

 

 

Some of my Christmas Memories include (tells you how old I am):

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