Christmas, my favorite Holiday!
As far as I can remember I have always loved Christmas. During my childhood my family told me the many beautiful stories about Christmas and the life of Jesus, which had always filled me with wonder and awe and, lots of pain. I have cried so many tears when the stories were told about the terrible treatment Jesus had to endure, how he was hunted, even hated, for being such a wonderful man.
I was lucky enough to be reminded, over and over again, by my family, that he made it out alright, that even his death was not the end. Even though this, his return, should mark my favorite Holiday, it is Christmas I really, really love.
Just yesterday I was talking to Jerry about Christmas and he pointed out that a lot has changed and he is right.
It does seem as if the "magic" has left the Christmas Season, a lot of people are indeed going around from Halloween until New Years, doing nothing but complaining about "Christmas Stress" and money and the fear of not getting the presents they want, it is really sad.
Some even start as early as January to shop for Christmas, sadly not out of love, but out of business thoughts.
Gifts can not be big and expensive enough, it seems. A new car for Christmas? Sure, people do it all the time, jewelry seems to be a must for the Holiday and toys have to be expensive, or nobody will like them. Your own children might look at you with dollar signs in their eyes and be upset if you don’t spend a lot of money on their kids for Christmas.
However, if you take a close look, there is something so much more important, so much more urgent for many people during Christmas time. Being in touch! Yes, people want to be in touch, with friends and family, they remember people, old friends or estranged family members who they have not seen or thought of in a long time. If it was not Christmas, they would not remember lost friends, but now, during this Holiday season, they do remember, they long to communicate, to share love, memories and good times. This is the magic of Christmas time; it can unite people who have drifted apart. Even complete strangers unite in giving. They give love to those who are going through hard times. Giving a blanket to a homeless person, a pair of shoes, a coat, is what makes them happy. The cloths don’t have to be new, they can be worn, but they are given with love in the heart, with kind thoughts, which makes them so very precious.
Never do nursing homes and hospitals enjoy as many visitors as during Christmas time, volunteers are busy all over the country giving a helping hand.
Is this not true Christmas Magic? Love, given to another person, sometimes to a complete stranger, without expecting anything in return and receiving yet so much. The feeling of having made a difference, the smile of a happy person, the knowledge of having done a good thing, maybe even a great thing and to have put a smile on God’s loving face.
I personally must say I do enjoy Christmas time more than any other time of the year. For me it is still filled with magic and excitement, but most of all, it is calm and peaceful for me. There is no Christmas stress for me. It is the time where I feel so relaxed and happy with life, no matter how bad things might be, I just can't help it. I am looking forward to get out the decorations for weeks and it is kind of funny, how I have to restrain myself not to put them up until after Thanksgiving (sometimes I can even last until 1 December!!! So proud of myself)
Of course it is my favorite time for story telling too. And, believe it or not, my sons, from 15 to 23, and their friends, like to listen. (The over 20 olds listen on the pc at instant messenger, since they are on the other site of the ocean. It works!).
Roger loves it too, the cookies, the stories and the Christmas movies we watch together, somehow we managed to turn Christmas into "True" family time, including our boy's friends and I do think that it means more to them than any present I could go and buy real quick. At the same time we are receiving a gift in return, wonderful memories and the knowledge that our sons too will one day share stories and memories with their children and friends.
I do believe that there are more and more people out there who try to capture Christmas the way it used to be and who knows, we might one day see that it is a lovely as in the old days, when shopping was not the priority during Christmas Season.
Wishing you a merry Christmas and to think of someone you have not thought about for a very long time, wishing you wonderful memories, peace and light.
Birgit and Roger
