The Ministry of VINTAGE Toys and Joys

My guest today is Kathryn Ross. Her love of history, beauty and poetry come together naturally and I know you will enjoy her story of vintage toys and joys. Be sure to leave your comment for Kathryn. She is giving away a copy of her chap book called, Fragrant Fields.

Restoration through Remembrance: The Ministry of VINTAGE Toys and Joys

By Kathryn Ross of The Writer’s Reverie

I save old things.

They’re tangible memories to look upon with a wisp of a glance in the midst of a busy day.  Memorials of slower times when innocent joys skipped gaily about in my childlike imaginings, these remnants of bygone days minister a mental respite.

I save Christmas.  Especially Christmas.

Each year I stop the clock, turn it back, and deck the halls with my nostalgic Christmas tree. It delights and comforts me—soul and spirit.

Draped with vintage and retro styled ornaments, the tree keeps watch over a display of vintage toys and Christmas kitsch.  Actual presents from my childhood sit beneath starlit branches. Old moments of innocent joys become new again.

I’m not ashamed to admit that I remain connected to the wonder and delight of my youth. Especially at Christmas we should strive to do so—entering the blessed season as a little child. To own tangible elements of days long gone captivates my present heart with pause.

And, in pausing . . . the power of renewal is within my grasp.

Raggedy Ann was given to me in Christmas 1961. Forty-plus years later, she still wears her original clothes. Placing her under my vintage Christmas tree, thoughts of our history together return. I remember the crisp frost of fall when I lost her.

I’d been playing with her outside. She wasn’t wearing her dress and pinafore. Mother called me indoors and I left her, forgotten, in the yard. Play days were traded for cold, rainy school days. Leaves blanketed the yard. I found her abandoned clothes in the toy box, but had no memory of where she might have gotten to.

A handful of weeks passed before a weekend without rain allowed my father to finally rake leaves. That’s when we found her. Face down in the dirt. Filthy. Stained. Damp and distraught for being so deserted.

It was a bittersweet moment to see her again. She had been lost to me and, though joyful in our reunion, it stung to realize it was my own careless fault to discover her in such a state.

Redeemed from the frigid outer regions, Mother made restoration. Warmed with a towel to absorb the wet, she gently washed the dirt away as best could be. Though much improved, poor Raggedy would forever bear some stains of the experience.

But, she was mine. Restored to me. And beautiful again in her blue floral dress with white pinafore.

So redeemed, she currently resides under my nostalgic Christmas tree. Hers is the Christmas story made tangible to me. I think of an innocent Child born, then abandoned, because of my sin, on a cross to die. And then, risen! Restored! Yet, bearing still my sin’s stains on His hands and feet.

It’s an old story told. It’s a vintage toy saved. A precious and tangible memory to arrest my hectic heart in the midst of a busy day with great joy.

I pause. I ponder. And in such a moment, prayer happens. Time slows to a stop and joys skip gaily about in my childlike imaginings.

Do you have childhood Christmas vintage toys you still treasure and display this time of year?

Tell me your story in the comments below. We’ll choose a winner to enjoy a complimentary copy of my devotional poetry chap book, Fragrant Fields: The Writer’s Reverie Collection.

 

Tweetables:

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Kathryn Ross is a writer, speaker, and enrichment artist inspiring a love of God through the power of story! Delighting audiences in Southern New Jersey, she ministers family literacy and discipleship in Christian living designed for schools, churches, women’s groups, retreats, and conferences. Trained in Principle Approach Education ®, Miss Kathy is an independent publisher at Pageant Wagon Publishing. She mentors Christian writers, specializing in teaching and learning literature for homeschool, churches, and women’s ministries, including Fable Springs Parables picture books and study guides, and Clementine Jones Drama and Derring-Do Books. She blogs at www.thewritersreverie.com. Learn more at www.pageantwagonpublishing.com.

 

 

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Raggedy Ann is still a favorite Christmas toy

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