Henry Morgan, III, Shares A Precious Christmas Reunion Story - "Seems Like Yesterday"

“Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered— how fleeting my life is. You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand. My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is but a breath.” 

Psalms 39:4-5 (NLT)

Guest Post #12

Christmas Story:

"Seems Like Yesterday" by Henry Morgan, III

  "I was excited all day, waiting for my mom to come visit me from out of state. I hadn’t seen her in a couple of years, due to her being ill and not being able to walk. After a strenuous recovery, she was now ready to see her baby boy. It was a few days before Christmas, and she was coming back to her hometown of New York. The wings from the butterflies were hitting against my stomach hard and fast.

“Nana, is she really coming to see me? How long does it take to get here?”

“Yes, Henry she is really coming to see you. It’s a long drive here from Michigan, and she is not driving; her friend is”

“Who’s driving her here?”

“You remember Ms. Mary that used to baby sit you in Detroit?”

“Oh yeah, I remember her!”

“Well, she is bringing Rosie to the house.”

   I had been living in New York with my Mom’s family because she was unable to care for me (at the time), and my Dad was in prison. It was a full house. My Nana, Aunt Sandra, and two cousins,  Charmelle and Robert, all stayed there with me. It was never a dull moment, there was always something going on in the house. This day in particular was very special—the reuniting of a mother and child. 

“I see a car in the driveway!” I said staring out the master bedroom window.

“He’s right.” My cousin Charmelle exclaimed, as she nudged me to the side a little bit to have a better view out of the window. 

   Aunt Sandra held me close. She knew it was a big moment for me, and she knew I was anxious. The door bell rang. Nana went down the stairs to open the door. I wasn’t far behind. Robert swiped through the top of my hair to show moral support. We all stood in the hallway as Nana opened up. 

   “Hey everybody!” my Mom said to all of us with excitement and cheer. Mom and Ms. Mary walked in the house and greeted everyone. I stood back in the hall and looked at my Mommy now walking with a wooden cane. It wasn’t the way I was used to seeing her, and I was a little scared.

    “Come here boy, don’t you want to give your mother a hug?” I walked over to Mom and she met me half way, slightly limping with her cane. We hugged each other for a long time. That hug was warmer than a big open fire on a hot day. She kissed me all over my face and told me how much she loved and missed me. I was so happy—the first woman I ever loved was with me again. God was granting me a huge wish for Christmas. 

   After our warm embrace, and after all the bags and gifts were taken out of the car, Mom gave me a letter. The outside of the envelope had my name on it. 

“This is from your Dad, Henry. Your Grandma, (my Dad’s mother,) gave this to me before we left to come here. We’ll call her later. Go ahead and open it. I’ll help you read it.”

   The inside of the letter made me smile and shed a few tears. Dad wrote how me he loved me and how proud of me he was. He told me to continue do good in school and listen to my elders. He said he was getting out of prison soon and he couldn’t wait to see me. It was a day I was looking forward to as well.

   The next few days were fun and full of love. The adults cooked my favorite foods like lasagna, split pea soup, and fried chicken. Nana, Aunt Sandra, and Mom caught up with each other and talked about the old times. Charmelle and Robert helped me look at the ‘hidden’ gifts for Christmas early, even though we weren’t supposed to (sorry, God). Ms. Mary even played catch outside with me in the cold weather. During that Christmas we celebrated God, family, and being able to put things back together again.

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT

‭‭‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

   After the holiday, Mom and Ms. Mary had to head back to the Motor City. Everyone else either had to go back to work or school. As Mom went to the door to leave, she hugged and kissed me one last time and said, “I love you son, I’ll see you soon.” I gave a final tight hug, with water in my eyes and said, “Goodbye Mommy, I love you too!”

   This Christmas, enjoy every moment with friends and family. I implore you to not take for granted time with loved ones. We don’t know what God has in store for us or how much time we have left for memories in the flesh. Life moves in a flash, and you wonder where all the time went. 

The moments we think of while reflecting feel like they happened yesterday. Ms. Mary, Grandma, Nana, Robert, Dad, and most recently, my Mom, are now in heaven with the Lord. My Aunt Sandra, Charmelle, and I are left to celebrate their memory and to make new ones, but what we would give to have all them back here again. 

   Make sure to make the calls, send the text or email, put the letter or card in the mailbox, make dates and meet each other. Let’s celebrate each other as we celebrate Jesus. I wouldn’t be who I am or be able to write this without the people in it. Let’s spread Godly cheer and thankfulness this season. 

Happy Holidays, from my family to yours. Be safe, peace, and love.

“Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.”

Psalms 90:12 NLT

Bio: I was born in Detroit, Michigan where I spent most of my life and also lived in Mt. Vernon, New York for five years. Currently I reside in Flowery Branch, Georgia where I live with my wife and two children. We all attend church and serve the Lord at Free Chapel. At this time, I’m a Wire Technician that installs and repairs internet and television services. I’ve been writing since a young kid in New York sharing stories with my family, but never to the world. I feel a strong calling from God to use what he has given to me and share with people that might need it.

You can connect with Henry on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter.

This story brought tears to my eyes!  A big thank you to Henry for sharing this precious Christmas reunion memory with us!  Please keep Henry and his family in your prayers, as his dear Mom just passed away recently.  May God hold them close to His heart in each moment of grief.

In case you missed them, you can read previous Christmas Memory Sharing Posts, by clicking these links:

Christmas from the Dumpster

Matthew Timmons Shares his Heart this Christmas

Tipper Pressley Shares Christmas Memories
Chris West Shares Two Christmas Memories
Melissa Evans Shares A Favorite Christmas Memory
Aryn the Libraryan Shares Her Favorite Christmas Tradition
Gentle Joy Shares a Christmas Miracle
Kitty Shares Her Cherished Christmas Gift
Nancy Reinke Shares "A Rocky Mountain Christmas"
Zachary Shares About An Unexpected Christmas Surprise
Karen Del Tatto Remembers A Priceless Christmas Gift
Emily Vick Shares About Gifts from her Paw Paw