[Dyre Straits]

The "Soft Christmas Baby"

Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will grant you the desires of your heart."

I've known since I was just a young boy that my Mom had a rough time growing up. She grew up during the Great Depression. Over the years she's shared many stories of that time with me. But today was the first time I remember hearing about this particular incident in her life.

She was at a Church Group Christmas Fellowship some time ago accompanied by one of my sisters. At the party, they had a "White Elephant" gift exchange. At some point during the party, the hostess asked for each one to share something memorable about Christmas from their childhood. My Mom told them about this one:

She is the youngest of three girls and only one brother is younger than she. An older brother died at Pearl Harbor in a tragic accident. She remembered that each of her older sisters had gotten their first 'soft' baby doll on Christmas after they had turned 6 years old. Well, since she had turned six in April of that year, she had looked forward for several months for Christmas and her very own 'soft' baby doll that she could cuddle and play with.

Christmas came and, instead of the 'soft' baby doll she had so eagerly anticipated, imagined, and longed for all those months from April, she got, instead, a 'hard' doll with stiff arms, body, and legs. She was so disappointed and furious that she didn't know what to say or do. The incident only added to the already existing feelings of inferiority and rejection that had been ingrained into her. She very rarely ever felt that she had been wanted.

As she shared this incident with the people at the party that evening, my sister softly told her, "But, Mama, you DID get your "Soft Christmas Baby."

As the truth of this began to sink into her mind, my Mom began to shed some tears. All those years of pain, disappointment and anguish turned to joy, relief and gratitude. Where both her parents and "Santa Claus" had failed, her Heavenly Father had granted the desire of her heart...

For, you see, she had, indeed, gotten her "Soft Christmas Baby" -- on December 25, 1948, I was born.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Lewis "Dyre Straits" Turner

[OmegaRED]

her Heavenly Father had granted the desire of her heart

Did I just read that right...you were immaculately conceived?

Bows down to Dire, our new Lord and Master.

[kris23]

dude.... thats intense

it is beautiful man.... so this is in your mother's life?

[cozumel]

That's a beautiful story man. Your mother sounds like a magnificent woman.

Happy birthday Dyre (a day late) merry christmas (also a day late) and a happy new year (early).

[Dyre Straits]

I really do have a great mother! Even though she's 78 years and counting, she can pass for a lot younger. And, I must take after her. Just tonight, someone at a restaurant guessed me to be at least 14 years younger than I actually am. So, we must have the same genes for sure!

And, yes, my mom overcame a LOT of hardship in her life. With three young children (I'm the oldest) we lost my father one week after my 7th birthday.

Thankfully, the most wonderful man in the world took an interest in my mom and became our step-father. (We lost him in Aug. 2002 to cancer.)

But, life has been very rewarding due to having a positive attitude ingrained in us and the encouragement that we could do just about anything we put our hearts and minds to doing.

Even after she had reached her late 60's, my mom got her first computer and has come a long, long way in using it and learning how to teach others to use theirs. She loves her PC and spends a lot of time on it.
(Oh, how I remember the all-nighters in those early years IM'ing one another to teach her how to do things!!! when we lived 500 miles apart!) But, it's been well worth all the time and effort.

But, no, we can't walk on water and don't make any claims to being anything other than mere mortals.

[OmegaRED]

But, no, we can't walk on water and don't make any claims to being anything other than mere mortals.

Not even with a water walking spell?

[swimtech]

Thank you for sharing that Dyre - and Happy (late) Birthday.

You really are an old softie! Not a bad thing whatsoever...