Christmas Then and Now: Moments That Carry Us
Lately, I’ve found myself feeling a little nostalgic about Christmas.
It crept up on me while we were preparing for our family gatherings this year—making lists, coordinating schedules, pulling decorations out of storage. The usual stuff. But underneath it, there was something quieter happening.
This year, we’ll have four generations gathered under one roof. Siblings. Kids. Grandkids. Nieces and nephews. Even great-grandkids. The youngest is just three months old. The oldest is 81. That span alone feels like a small miracle.
For me, Christmas has always been about family.
We’re incredibly blessed to have family close by, and I don’t take that lightly. Because I know—deeply—that what we’re really doing this time of year isn’t just celebrating a holiday. We’re creating moments. The kind that linger. The kind that quietly carry us through life.
When I think back to my own childhood Christmases, the memories are vivid. Time with my immediate family. The couple of years when we piled into the car and drove out of state to be with grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Those trips felt like an adventure. And fostered relationships that remain strong today.
The photo I’m using for this blog is the last one my parents used for a Christmas card. Seven months later, my dad died suddenly of a heart attack. He was 38.
I honestly don’t remember much about the first few Christmases after he passed. It’s as if my mind put a soft blur over those years. The memories start to come back around age 13.
What I do remember—and cherish—are the ways my mom did her best to keep Christmas special. It wasn’t grand or flashy. It was the little things. Baking cookies. Making decorations. Singing carols. Going to church together. Creating warmth where she could.
As the years have passed, I like to think that my husband and I are helping create those same kinds of memories for our family now. Watching the little ones light up with excitement. Seeing the teens step into their blossoming lives. Noticing the extended family connections forming in real time. Those relationships matter more than we often realize in the moment.
This time of year can be especially difficult for people navigating loss, change, or loneliness. That may be part of why I hold these family moments so closely. I’m acutely aware that for many, the holidays bring stress rather than comfort.
Which is exactly why I believe we can’t let our blessings slip through our fingers unnoticed.
I’m profoundly grateful for the moments of connection. For shared laughter. For quiet conversations. For the simple act of being together.
Wherever you are this season—whether surrounded by people or finding your way through something difficult—I hope you discover moments of joy and gratitude. Even small ones count.
This is a season of hope.
And my wish, always, is simple and timeless: peace on earth, and goodwill toward all.
Please share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section below.
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About Lynda-Ross
Lynda-Ross Vega is a partner at Vega Behavioral Consulting, Ltd. She specializes in helping corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and individuals with interpersonal communications, team dynamics, personal development, and navigating change. Lynda-Ross is co-creator of Perceptual Style Theory, a revolutionary behavioral psychology theory and assessment system that teaches people how to unleash their natural strengths and build the life and career they dream of.
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