UPDATE: As the festive season approaches, a poignant reflection from Geoff Adams, Country News editor, captures the essence of Christmas in rural Australia. For four young farm boys, including Adams, Christmas was marked by hot, dry days in the 1960s, running barefoot on the property and navigating the challenges of summer.
Adams recalls a time when air conditioning was nonexistent, prompting the boys to lay on the lounge room carpet with damp cloths on their foreheads, dreaming of evening swims in nearby irrigation channels. This vivid imagery brings the harsh realities of summer coupled with the warmth of childhood memories to life.
Christmas Day, falling between school years, sparked feelings of both regret and anticipation. Adams reminisces about his hardworking father and his mother, who managed the household with a bright disposition despite financial challenges. The reflections illuminate a universal theme: the bittersweet nature of growing up.
Meeting his future wife transformed Adams’ understanding of Christmas. She urged him to embrace the deeper significance of the holiday, compelling this then-20-year-old to reconsider what it meant to build a life together. Her influence brought a newfound seriousness to a day often overshadowed by commercialism.
Adams emphasizes that his true connection with Christmas lies not in shopping, but in celebrating the birth of the one honored during the holiday. He reflects on the welcoming nature of this celebration despite personal shortcomings, urging readers to embrace the true spirit of Christmas.
“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year,” he quotes Charles Dickens from A Christmas Carol, reminding us of the importance of carrying the spirit of the holiday throughout the year.
This heartfelt reflection serves as a reminder of the enduring values of love, family, and generosity during the festive season. As we enter this year’s celebrations, consider the deeper meanings that come with Christmas and the shared experiences that bind us together.
In a world often distracted by commercial pressures, Adams’ words resonate deeply, inviting all to reflect on their own experiences and the significance of human connection during this special time of year.
