Gloria Doty's 'Bestest' Christmas Memory

​                I have many wonderful Christmas memories: the year my older sister got a bicycle and I got a red tricycle, and  the year my aunt gave me a two-story metal doll house with all the furniture included, but there is one year that stands out in my memory in every detail.
                Our family always attended Christmas Eve services at the small church a few miles from our house in the country. I also attended school there and had a memorized ‘piece’ to say in the program. Mom would make me a new dress for that auspicious occasion. This year, the dress material was a shimmery blue; nothing flashy, but I thought it was beautiful and I loved the feel of the material.
                Although I was probably too old for dolls any longer, I had specifically asked for a ‘bride doll’ I saw in the Sears catalog. She was a big doll and not only had a white bride’s dress, but a veil covered her hair and a portion of her face. I wanted her so badly. I told myself I wouldn’t actually play with her, so I wouldn’t get her dirty, but I would be able to look at her and that would be enough.
                Our tradition was to open gifts on Christmas Eve after we returned from church and I was beyond happy when I opened the long box and my coveted doll looked back at me from inside the tissue paper. I danced around the living room holding her carefully. I didn’t care about the other two or three gifts with my name on them…I had what I wanted.
                My mother encouraged me to put the doll down and open the largest one. When I took the lid off, the contents almost took my breath away. Inside was a pair of soft flannel pajamas for me and a matching pair for my doll, a coat for my doll, a sweater and hat for her and the best of all: a dress made from the same fabric as my Christmas dress.  I was in heaven and couldn’t thank my mom enough.
                I knew the real meaning of Christmas and could recite the entire second chapter of Luke. I was well aware of the fact that it was Jesus’ birthday and I was always thankful for that, too, but as far as earthly possessions go, the bride doll with the blue dress like mine rates as one of my ‘bestest’ memories.

Click to read my reviews of books by Gloria Doty.
                             Not Different Enough  

                             A Bouquet of Devotions 

                and the The Magnolia Series  (5 volume romance series)


                      Visit Gloria at  Writing by Gloria.