26 DECEMBER 2024 | INTHEVUE.COM AREN’T OUR FAVORITE CHRISTMAS memories from childhood when we were with our entire family - siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, and grandparents? For me, my most cherished Christmas memories were when my parents and I would drive five hours from Louisville, KY, to Gumwoods Rd in Trenton, TN, to stay with my grandmother and pawpaw. Gumwoods, coined by the many gumball trees that lined the properties on the street, was all our family’s favorite place to be, especially during the holidays. My grandmother would always be rocking her newest grandbaby in her rocking chair, the adults (and kids as we got older) played Rook, we exchanged “Sneaky Santa” gifts, and we would all grab a sip of fresh boiled custard that my grandmother prepared. And each year, before we would eat our Christmas supper, the youngest child that could read would open my grandmother’s Bible to Luke Chapter 2 and read the birth of Jesus Christ for the entire family. With all of the craziness that came with gathering our very large family in a small farmhouse, this was the moment of the night that we all stood still, listened, and opened our hearts to hear of the glorious gift that was given to us by our great God. We all know of the precious gift in the birth of Jesus Christ, and we try our best to celebrate that each Christmas, but opening up the Bible and reading it as you gather with blessings all around you, is from MAGGIE ARMON second to none. I encourage you to read these verses with your family this Christmas. And if you don’t have a Bible, we have published them here. Merry Christmas! Luke Chapter 2 1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
