Angela Huntley / Bessie Fletcher

BY ANGELA HUNTLEY (Daughter)

This year Christmas will be different. We will have a socially distanced gathering of about seven of our immediate family members to exchange gifts instead of our usual big feast and celebration with extended family and friends. During this holiday season, I will miss attending our usual Christmas parties and celebrations.

To keep the joy in Christmas this year, I will do what I work hard to do every year, which is to keep my focus on the real meaning of Christmas. It’s all about Jesus Christ. That brings joy to the holiday for me. This Christmas especially I am thankful to look back over the last several months and see how God has blessed, kept, provided, and protected me and my family during such uncertain times.

To brighten the Christmas for another mother and daughter, I would encourage them to not focus on what you don’t have, what didn’t happen this year, or that you may not get together during the holidays. Focus on the things that are well in your life right now. Be grateful you’re still here. Being here means you made it through. And if you made it through to this point, you could go further. Things will get better. Remember, joy will come in the morning.

BY DR. BESSIE FLETCHER (Mother)

My most memorable Christmas for me was at 12 years old! That was the year when the “Real Truth” about Santa became my reality! Yes, I was told many times by my friends and cousins, but I refused to believe them. As an only child, I didn’t want to spoil my parent’s joy of showing me with gifts. I understood the concept, but I enjoyed playing the game with my parents.

During my usual hunt for presents, each year, I wasn’t able to find them, because they were at my aunt’s house. But this Christmas, my daddy forgot and left my watch in his coat pocket. When I found it, reality hit me! I became sick to my stomach. It showed in my face and my spirit. My mother began asking me over and over, what’s wrong with you? So, I had to confess. It relieved her! She said, well now we won’t have to play those games anymore. And to this day, I wish that I had never sought for my presents. Because I lost my thrill of the mystery of Christmas!

Although I live 10-minutes from my daughter and her family, each year I would pack-up and go to their house and spend the week of Christmas. I would extend my stay through my birthday, New Year’s Eve, and return home on New Year’s Day. Because of COVID-19, I am going to miss that. I will stay Christmas night and the next day for my birthday.

I will miss cooking, playing games, staying up late at night, as Angela and I attempt to watch as many movies as we can. But find us waking up around 2:30 AM turning the television off and dragging ourselves to our beds.

As always, the core of our Christmas is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He is first on my list every day!

My advice to mothers and daughters and their families, stay focus on the “Present” that’s where God is! Merry Christmas!