COMMENTARY: A Christmas never forgotten Published Dec. 18, 2015 By Johnnie Churchwell 548th Propulsion Maintenance Squadron TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Let me tell you about a Christmas never forgotten by a family -- a mother raising four children alone. The year was 1962. Mom had us bring out the Christmas decorations so we could enjoy the bright lights on the tree, the assorted colored ornaments and all of the other decorations. There was one decoration that stood out and reminded us of a special Christmas long ago. It was the nativity scene of Jesus' birth, the reason for the season. The most treasured gift ever given to mankind. As the days flew by and Christmas Day approached, we still had a beautiful tree, but there was something missing. There were no gifts under that tree. That's when mom sat us four children down and explained that she didn't have the money to buy gifts or the things it took to make a traditional Christmas dinner. Still, God had blessed us with the most treasured gift, Jesus, and each other. We accepted that with much thanksgiving and joy. The night of Christmas Eve finally arrived and the four of us knelt down to say our bedtime prayers, knowing that we wouldn't be getting up on Christmas morning to presents or a big Christmas dinner. But, we were thankful for what we did have -- Jesus, each other and the ingredients for a delicious bologna sandwich, with chips! As we lay in our beds, we could hear mom in the living room praying and crying because she wasn't able to provide gifts and an extravagant dinner for her family. The four of us drifted off to sleep, but mom stayed up to make sure everything was secure for the night. Before she could go to bed, she heard a knock on the front door. She cautiously cracked the door open to see who was there. To her surprise, two well-dressed men stood before her. They introduced themselves and asked if she was Mrs. Churchwell, with four children named Johnnie, Ronnie, Brenda and Anita. After Mom's "yes," they explained why they were there. These two men carried in Christmas gifts of every size and shape, plus everything it takes to have that extravagant dinner. They even had Christmas gifts for mom from each of us children. Yea! Christmas morning finally arrived. As the four of us bounced out of bed to enjoy Christmas together, we got the biggest surprise ever. There were all kinds of gifts under our tree and the smell of Christmas ham with all of the goodies. So, I want to say, from the four of us, thank you, Lord, and thank you Tinker employees then and now for helping families in need. Thanks for a Christmas never forgotten!