Some of our most tender lessons arrive inside a funny family memory. Here is one from a Christmas Eve long ago, told by Connie H. Deutsch.
Key Takeaways
- Being trusted with a grown-up task can feel wonderful, even for a serious child.
- Some things cannot be rushed, and childhood is one of them.
- Good intentions and a little improvising do not always go as planned.
- A small mishap can become a story worth telling.
- Looking back with warmth is a gentle form of reflection.
Do you remember feeling like a grown-up, being given the responsibility of an adult, allowed to do your parent’s special project for the first time? I had one of those experiences and it was such a wonderful feeling to be treated like an adult. I was a serious child and tried to perform my very best at every age. But some things can’t be rushed like skipping childhood quickly to become an adult.
It was Christmas Eve and I was quite young and my parents had always encouraged me to do adult kinds of things. This year was one of those times. They told me that I could be in charge of filling the Christmas stockings with little gifts and then hanging them from the mantel. I was in seventh heaven. Imagine that. Me. Doing such a grown-up thing.
When my parents went to bed, I assembled all the things that were designated to go in the socks. I looked around and couldn’t find socks that were sturdy enough to hang from a mantel with candies and gifts. Then I spotted my father’s new black, silk, knee-high socks and proceeded to fill them.
I laid them out on the table and started pushing goodies into them but then I realized that all the goodies in our county couldn’t fill those socks. Keep in mind that in those days, there were no commercial Christmas socks made out of felt and sewn together for their strength so we used our own socks.
Since no one knew that I was going to use my father’s silk, knee-high socks, no one told me that they stretch very easily. So, there I sat at the table with these socks laid out flat, stuffing things into them.
The trouble with that was that knee-high silk socks keep stretching as they are filled. In frustration at not having enough gifts to go from the soles of the socks to the tops, I grabbed some oranges and pushed them into the bottoms of the socks and then put the little gifts on top of them and hung them up on the mantel.
The next morning, when we all came downstairs to wish each other a Merry Christmas and open our presents, my father was more surprised than pleased to see his new, silk, knee-high socks dragging on the floor, stretched so far down, that each sock could have fit two or three legs into them.
My wonderful feeling of being treated like an adult didn’t last very long. After that experience, I was back to being treated like a child for the next few years.
If you would like schedule a counseling session with Connie go to: Book a Session with Connie
Written by Connie H. Deutsch
Want to take your SOUL to the next level? Take a listen and subscribe to the Next Level Soul Podcast.
Also, check out our curated Courses and Books that can help you along your path.
Where to Go Next
Stories like this one remind us that every stage of life has its own gifts. If you would like to sit with that idea, these pages on Next Level Soul are a good place to begin. This week, write down one childhood memory that still makes you smile.
- Meditation guide: how to meditate, a simple way to start a quiet daily practice.
- Creating a sacred space at home, for a calm corner of your own.
- Spiritual awakening signs, for what a shift in awareness can feel like.
- Free masterclasses, to learn from real teachers at your own pace.
- The Next Level Soul Podcast, with new conversations every week.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Night Before Christmas Story About?
A short, true story by Connie H. Deutsch. As a young girl she was trusted to fill the family Christmas stockings, and she used her father’s new silk knee-high socks. They stretched, and the morning surprise is the heart of the tale.
Who Is Connie H. Deutsch?
Connie H. Deutsch is a writer whose reflections appear on Next Level Soul. She also offers counseling sessions, which you can book on her Next Level Soul page.
What Does This Story Say About Growing Up?
In Connie’s words, some things cannot be rushed, like skipping childhood quickly to become an adult. Her story is a gentle reminder to let each stage of life take its time.
How Can I Use a Childhood Memory for Reflection?
Sit quietly for a few minutes and let one memory come back. Notice how it feels in your body, then write a few lines about what it taught you. Our meditation guide can help you settle in first.
Where Can I Hear More From Next Level Soul?
The Next Level Soul Podcast shares new conversations every week, and free masterclasses are available on our free courses page.
