Wonderful Time of the Year
As Christmas Eve dawned, I found myself out of the house earlier than normal so I could get to the car dealership and have a small bit of work done before going to work myself. As I drove and listened to Christmas music, I found myself thinking about the songs, their words and meanings and realized I was tearing up with the emotion of the season.
It gets harder each year to listen to a good, soulful sounding "Silent Night" without tearing up. "O Holy Night" almost always brings me to the brink of tears and "I'll Be Home for Christmas" will leave me looking like I've had an allergic reaction to something. It's not just the traditional songs either. "Chrismastime" by Michael W. Smith and "Tennessee Christmas" by Amy Grant get me too. Frankly, most Christmas songs, with the notable exception of "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" (Google it), seem to reach deeper into my emotional being these days. I find myself dwelling more and more on memories of Christmases past as well as thinking of those around me who don't have as much as I, not that I am wealthy or living in the lap of luxury. It boggles my mind to know there are people living a few miles from where I sit that would consider receiving the basic necessities for living as a Christmas blessing. It makes me pause, and be thankful for what I have, and what I can and should share.
If you think this post is a emotional stab at making you feel bad because you have and others have not, you're wrong. I am trying to state simply, if not succinctly, we should be thankful in this season of love for the little things.
We should take a few seconds to breathe, sit quietly, and reflect. Rejoice in the gathering of family and friends and remember those who can't be with us because of distance or commitment. We need to comfort those who morn through their first, second or tenth Christmas without a loved one lost to death, not sharing platitudes of "better places," but giving simple acts of kindness and listening while they remember. We should strive to hold onto the feeling of brotherhood that seems limited to this time of the year and make an effort to extend these feelings and acts of kindness by days, weeks, and months if possible, and it IS possible.
Traditions
My family and I have several "traditions" on Christmas Eve and we try to do them all if possible. We enjoy going out to a store and watching the bustle of the last minute shoppers looking for last minute deals. We then find a restaurant and eat a fun meal together, usually pizza, (Long time Glover Tradition, I just can't figure out how it started). For the last couple of years, we follow that with the last Christmas Eve service at Hope Presbyterian, and then home to retell the Christmas story from Luke before settling in for "a long winter's nap." This year, we may not do the store trip, but we are adding a shift volunteering to serve at Hope for an earlier service, so we will still get to see the bustling people running around everywhere. What are your traditions? What do you do as a family or as yourself to note the passing of the season? You don't have any, you say? Then START one, today. Anything will work as long as it is done in love and not out of a sense of duty. Even eating pizza counts. Above all, remember and be thankful for what you have and share that feeling with others.
And above all, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and a Happy New Year to each and every one. May your season be filled with Love, Light, and a Lot of Joy
