Time for a Christmas Song

“But, Mom, I don’t want to go,” Harper pouted in the back seat after losing the battle to get in the car. 

“Honey, we do this every year, and you always have a great time,” Mom reassured her. 

Harley held the book of Christmas carols tightly, “I thought you liked singing?” He wasn’t sure why his sister was in a bad mood. 

The three of them were departing to go to the local Senior Assisted Living home to sing Christmas carols with other families to the residents. It was a tradition that they had been doing for as long as Harley could remember. 

“It’s not about the singing…” Harper muttered, crossing her arms. 

Mom stood at the side of the van waiting to close the door. They had a few minutes to spare until they had to get on the road. She took a minute to let her daughter wallow, wondering what the reason was behind her diminished desire to go caroling. 

It had been a busy two weeks of holiday festivities. They only had a few more days of school before the winter break and their evenings were filled with parties, parades, and general merriment of the season. Mom was exhausted from the go-go-go, but also enjoyed the seasonal array of fun outings and traditions. Perhaps Harper was simply tired? 

“Why don’t you want to go?”

Harper shrugged.

“That is not an answer,” Mom stated, waiting for a better answer. After a moment, she grew impatient, “Harper I cannot help you unless you tell me what is wrong.” 

“Do you want to look at the Christmas Carol book and pick out a song? I’ll let you choose the first one we sing,” Harley offered. 

“I don’t want to pick out a song, I don’t want to sing, I don’t want to go!” 

“Okay, we do not need to yell,” Mom held up her finger. “Harper, we are going, and you can either tell me why you don’t want to go so I can help, or you can be silent, but we will still go.” 

Harper kept her mom’s gaze and quietly admitted, “I get really sad when I go to there…”

Mom waited. 

“It makes me miss Great Grandma,” Harper admitted quietly. 

“Oh, Honey…” Mom grew sad. It hadn’t dawned on her that the memory of the twin’s great-grandma would come to call. The twins remembered a handful of times spent with their Nana, who had passed five years prior. They were still toddlers at the time, but each moment shared had been precious.

“Would you like a hug?” Mom bent into the van and reached for Harper. 

“I remember Nana,” Harley spoke up. “She gave us butterscotch cookies.”

Mom smiled, “Yes, anything with butterscotch was her absolute favorite, especially this time of year.”

Harper hugged her mom, “I remember being at her apartment for Christmas, and there was Christmas music playing.”

“I see.” Mom put the memory and the trip to the Senior Assisted Living together and knew how Harper must be feeling. “Do you want to know what Nana’s favorite Christmas song was?”

“What?” Harley asked as Harper nodded.

“Joy to the World. She liked the idea of everyone and everything coming together at this time of year and being nothing but joyful.” She waited a moment, “What is your favorite Christmas song, Harley?”

“Hmm…” He touched his chin in thought, “I like ‘It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas’ because it always gets me excited for all the holiday fun.”

“I like that,” Mom looked down at Harper, still hugging her, “What about you, Harper?”

“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.”

Mom kissed the top of her head, “And why is that?”

“Well…” Harper sat back, “We watch the movie every year and wear matching pajamas with those special cookies. The song always reminds me of that.” 

“So, each of your favorite Christmas songs comes with some special memories and feelings, huh?”

“I guess so.” 

“Well, I bet that the people that live at the Senior Assisted Living home have their own favorite Christmas songs, and by you singing them, it might make them feel loved this time of year by bringing up warm holiday memories. Some of them might not be able to see their kids, grandkids, or even great-grandkids. They look forward to when we come, it spreads Christmas Spirit – remember when we talked about that?”

The twins nodded, and Harper thought that as much as she missed her Great Grandma, it made her even more sad to think that some of the people who lived at the home might not see their loved ones. If she could bring them some Christmas Spirit with a song, then she was going to do just that!

Buckling her seat belt, she looked at Harley, “Alright, let me pick out the first song we will sing!”

**Do you have a favorite Christmas song? Why is it your favorite? Music is an excellent way to spread holiday cheer, take some time this season to sing a few for those you love and with those you love.

Brittany Richards is a full-time Marco Island resident passionate about all things literary. Creating stories and avidly reading from a young age, she seeks to inspire the next generation to put down the screen and pick up a book. Whether as a nanny, camp counselor, or gymnastics coach, she has a history of working with children and has recently welcomed her first child with her husband. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, boating, and cuddling with her beloved dog.