 | Faye Graves, a native Wichitan, attended school at Friends and Wichita State, concluding at Midwestern Theological Seminary. He has been active in media for many years with Channel 12, KIRL, KFDI, KOOO AM & FM (Omaha), KFRM & KICT 95, as an owner, manager, producer, director and announcer. He has served as President of the Haysville Board of Education. He has also served on several national boards of the Southern Baptist Convention. Faye currently serves as Executive Pastor and Director of Administration and Education at Immanuel Baptist Church, 1415 S. Topeka, Wichita. You may contact Faye by e-mail fmgraves@amenibc.org, or by phone at (316) 262-1452. |
Nostalgia
2011-11-17 11:37:14
Remember...
Q: It is already Christmas time. We always enjoy reading about your memories. Got another?
A: Yes I do and you are so right. This year has gone by fast and now we are looking at Christmas and a New Year, just a short time away.
When I was a young boy, 10-years old, I was attending Harry Street Elementary school during this month and looking forward to the holidays. I lived in an area of middle class folks who were just coming out of the depression years. My father worked at two completely different jobs to keep up with the bills. He was employed on the paint crew for the Missouri Pacific railroad and also worked some nights for the Southwest Cracker Company. The kids down the street had a toy fire truck that we all drove and played fireman. The truck was equipped with pedals to make it go and a bell we could ring that as I look back, probably made the neighbors nerves to get tight . Well, I enjoyed playing with that vehicle so much that I talked to my dad about it a lot.
The Christmas season approached. Downtown Wichita put up their strands of evergreen across Douglas, and they had lights that were turned on every night until the holidays were over. The larger department stores all made the season very exciting. Bucks, with their giant Santa…Hinkels with an intercom through which you could actually talk to Santa…Innes.(Later Macys) had all kinds toys and a line of dwarfs and special displays. Downtown was a big deal. There were no shopping centers. But the crowds were just as big. There was lots of traffic with many shoppers there getting ready for the big day. I continued to tell
my folks every day about the firetruck I loved to drive and play with. Finally, the big morning! Christmas arrived. I rushed to get to the tree in our living room, and there sat a beautiful burgundy colored pedal car. It had a windshield, lights, horn and was gorgeous, just what a 10-year old ”ME” dreamed and talked about. My Dad and Mom sacrificed to buy me that pedal car. I will never forget it. Back then it was so important. Today…not all that much.
I would be totally negligent if I didn’t close this article by saying that now I know what Christmas is really about…the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, Who came down from Heaven, suffered and sacrificed His Life for us, which makes this day…the day He was born…so tremendous and wonderful. Churches all over town have special Christmas services and presentations. I hope you can attend one of them, remembering that “Jesus is the reason for the season. Merry Christmas to everyone!”
