It is
Christmas. Halleluiah!
Yes, one more time I am
celebrating the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ
However, family and friends were forewarned Christmas wouldn’t be the same for me this year. I’m not sending greeting cards. Neither would I buy nor gather Christmas
gifts for those I dearly love. Immediate
family dismissed my pronouncement with an absent-minded retort, “you always say that, but you will”.
They’ve been correct. For several years, I’ve felt strongly that
pulling back from the ridiculous commercialization of Christmas was the right
thing to do. I would announce, “no gifts
from me this year.”
But then I’d overcome myself
and get busy, as I’d always loved to do. Yes,
I enjoyed selecting and writing the cards. I liked the thoughtful
challenge of determining and securing the unique gift or gifts for each person and pet on my
list.
This year is different. Thinking of Christmas for the families of
Sandy Hook Elementary School (Newtown, CT.) sapped my energy for joyfully
bustling about. So, yes, I’ve held fast
to my word. Beginning to write this, I
felt secure about my decision. (There
are no small children in my family.) Admittedly
though, as I project my thoughts to a few hours from now, I’m feeling a teeny
bit squeamish. I’ll be a Christmas Morning
Grinch . . . nothing from me under the tree. Oh me.
I pray the Lord helps me evidence love through my giving attitude and
joyful spirit. (I’ll give of myself; make
sure the Christmas breakfast is special, without
any help from others!)
The household is sleeping now. Christmas Eve has evolved into very early
Christmas morning. The ambiance is warm
and wonderful in our home. I’ve not long
taken our traditional Christmas Eve ham out of the oven and the house smells yummy. Others have put beautiful gifts under the
beautifully decorated tree. I’m sitting
in a festive room quiet except for the magnificent sounds of the mass choir on TV singing of the wonder that night more than 2000 years ago “when love came down to the earth”.
Oh blessed night.
I wish you and yours a Merry
Christmas, also.
Christmas is meant to observe the birth of Jesus. The wise men brought gifts and travelled hundreds if not thousands of miles to deliver them. So I've always thought the giving of gifts to those we care about and love was a tradition to honor the wise men's gift for the baby Jesus. Giving is the second cornerstone of Christmas.
ReplyDeleteTouche'. Giving to as many as you can is the perfect response to the birth of The Greatest Gift, God's Son. Your reminder brought tears to my eyes. I will never again take gift giving out of my celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. Thank you.
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