Page 4 2024 Worship Guide LINCOLN DAILY NEWS December 2024 Continued -- By Rev. Larry Collins, Worship Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Lincoln “Mama, It's Christmas Eve, and tomorrow morning we get to open our presents.” I announced excitedly. My brother Jerry and sisters, Mary and Sarah, were so excited for this one morning each year when we receive surprise gifts and toys. Christmas! “And, Mama,” I asked, “can you put the record on the record player, 'Here Comes Santa Claus' to wake us up?” She smiled and said, “Yes, of course.” We went to bed eagerly awaiting the breaking of dawn. Mother was busy through the night as we slept. Boom! Like no time had passed, when our eyes popped open at the sound of Gene Autry singing the song I had requested on our 78 RPM record player. We ran down the steps A childhood memory of Christmas to see a new bicycle, cap guns like the Lone Ranger used, dolls for my sisters, cakes and goodies to eat. It was a wonderful morning in the Collins home, our humble little house on the east side of Palestine, Illinois. Daddy had died a few years before and mother and we four children were left to celebrate the holiday without his laughter and his presence. Mother had taken a job at the Robinson Memorial Hospital in Robinson to provide for us. It was amazing that she could afford to buy these special gifts. There were no credit cards in those days. She put things on layaway and paid on them each month until they were paid in full. She also bought things with her S and H green Stamps from Patterson's supermarket.
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