We all have cherished items and stories that make up the enduring traditions in our families — things that may seem unremarkable individually, but collectively are priceless.
This image isn’t all the way up to snuff, but it tells a story.
The bears you see here were Christmas gifts from my mother to Adorable Child when AC was tiny. In those years, my mother was struggling financially, and I worried about the money she’d spent — but AC and I both loved them, and they’ve become part of our Christmas display.
All by themselves, they are precious to us… but there’s more to this story.
While you can’t see it in this shot, the platform upon which these cheery bears sit is a hand-made child’s ironing board. It’s not elaborate, nor is it particularly sturdy. It was, however, crafted in the fall of 1936 by my grandfather — my mother’s dad, and AC’s great-grandpa — for my mother’s sister (my aunt). She sent it to me after I married in 1992, for my own future children.
Altogether, this particular display represents nearly 75 years of one family’s history, and four generations of love.
I’m starting to get into the spirit of the season. Can you tell?