Christmas Candy

Christmas Candy
by Danl Hall on Thursday, December 16, 2010 at 10:45pm

Remember the metal tins of Christmas candy? You remember the little rectangles of sugary goodness when left after Christmas in the tin become one big ball? When I was younger I remember those tins of Christmas candy, oranges (why oranges at Christmas?), apples and plastic army men. Thinking about that tonite takes me back to that time when I was a kid....Lets go back a few years....

Picture a snowy night with the big flakes coming down so much you thought you were in a snow globe. We are along a small street(Main Street) in Pikeville, KY(pop. 3500+/-). Its Friday night and the local store, G.C. Murphy's is staying open later because its the Christmas season. Its not terribly cold but cold enough that the store's warmth is made that much more special. G.C. Murphy's is a general store with everything from clothes, laundry stuff, hardware, toys, toys and CANDY! Inside the store near the middle of the building is this kid's dream...the candy and nut counter! For what seemed like forever, the candy aisle stretched out with all kinds of candy...chocolate covered peanuts, orange slices, salted peanuts, and if we had a little more money a hot bag of cashews! Mercy that was good. It was also the place where the Christmas candy was located. Thinking of that and other times at Christmas made my thoughts go to my "Mamaw Suzie". Mamaw Suzie was a widow for a long time. She lived where my dad was raised on Sookey's Creek. She was an independent woman who lived alone for a long time but never seemed to be alone. She always had a smile and enjoyed every day. She had a green thumb and could grow anything from almost nothing. At Christmas time, one of things I remember was her gifts, her food, and the Christmas candy. She always had the little tins around and I particularly liked the ones with the green stripes. I also remember her contentment, her serenity, her faith (as I later come to know) and her sweetness. At the time, I just knew those qualities as Mamaw Suzie. Only later on, have I come to know what or who gave her those traits.

Mamaw Suzie was a believer. She had an everyday communication with God. She trusted in Him who saw her through everything. She didnt thump you on the head with a bible, never much discussed anything. But she was always giving, caring for others, making sure others had when she didnt. She loved her neighbors as much as she did herself and always put them before her own needs. She walked, talked, breathed and lived in communication with her Creator. She did what He asked her to do. She was obedient.

As I think about that now, I remember what Jesus was trying to get everyone back then and now to understand. When he brought the little children to himself and told those around that the kingdom of heaven is likened to that of the children. A childlike faith. When we are children we "just know" that when we ask for something we will recieve it, when we reach our hands up, we will be picked up; when we go to grandma's house, there will be Christmas candy, when we get up on Saturday morning there will be cartoons on the television. We know and dont doubt that anything will be any different. We just know...deep down without thinking or debating...we just know.

As we grow older, the world gets into us too much. We cant believe that those things can happen. We cant believe if we trust God, He will do as he said and take care of us. We think that we surely have to take control and get things done! Surely, we can control things and make things as they should be. Wow, when God was asking Job where he was when He was busy creating the universe, Job understood that it wasnt about him, it was and still is all about God. This world keeps telling us that we are in charge of our life, its all about us, we "deserve" this or that. At the end of the day, there is still just one that has died and came back...and he was God.

The Christmas candy tin is not as popular as it used to be, but when i see some green stripe hard candy, I will be thinking of a few things...Mamaw Suzie with the sparkle in her eyes opening her presents, Murphy's department store and the candy aisle, and the Creator who came to say follow me and trust me like you would when you were a child...

So this Christmas, lets remember our childhood Christmas lists and those memories, but better yet, lets get our minds and hearts to where they were when we "just know" that He cares for us, He will do what he says, He will pick us up when we reach up our hands. When you see your favorite Christmas candy, I hope you think of Him.

Love you, mean it.


danl