Christmas Reflections

I have never quite gotten over Christmas. Thank God for that! In many ways, I still view it as I did as a kid growing up in Federalsburg, Maryland. As I sit here and write this, I can feel the excitement welling up inside of me even though it is only the sixth day of December. I am sure this is also due in no small part to the Christmas music playing in my ear. I start listening to the music of the season the day after Thanksgiving and continue it until New Year's. I still get up early Christmas morning and ALWAYS dream of a White Christmas. We did not have that many white ones in those days of yore but when we did it was glorious. Christmas Eve was the time for our family and friends to gather, eat and exchange gifts but the first order of business was to deliver Christmas dinners to families less fortunate. While as a kid I found this to be a major inconvenience, it is now one of the highlights of my Christmas memories. Then it was off to bed anticipating getting up at 5AM or earlier to see what Santa brought us. It was so exciting I could hardly contain myself. After breakfast of buckwheat cakes (batter made the night before by my MomMus Adams) and homemade McMahon brand sausage, we ventured out to visit our friends to see what St Nick had laid under their trees. Back home we waited for the reciprocal visits which went on all day long. Leftovers were for dinner which included my Mom's fried potato cakes made from the mashed ones left from Christmas dinner. A pat of butter on top and gravy over that made for a gourmet treat of unimaginable proportions. I come from a family of lengthy prayers. My Pop Pop Dobson was a retired minister and after he went to be with the Lord, my Dad took over the blessing duties and he was equally as long winded. I, to some degree, have carried on their tradition. We Dobson's have always ended our blessings with "Bless this food to the nourishment of our bodies and us to thy service in Christ's name. Amen" My family came to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1715 and I suspect that blessing has come down from the original settler, John Dobson. I hope it does not end with me.
I believe very firmly and fervently in The Butterfly Effect which in the 90s became a bona fide scientific theory after being laughed at for years. A butterfly can flap its wings on one side of the earth and the motion of air from that can potentially set off a chain reaction that can cause a hurricane on the other side of the globe. Every action you take or don't take, every move you make has repercussions for mankind all over the world. May each of you flap your positive butterfly wings in someone's life and influence it and may that influence continue to bear fruit.
God Bless You Everyone!!!