Merry Christmas From The Bottom Line
Opinion Editorialist for
‘THE BOTTOM LINE’
What
does Christmas mean to you? It may depend on who you are, or where you came
from, or what your past life was like. For many, Christmas can be a sad time.
It reminds people of their losses, perhaps a failed marriage, or death of loved
one, or being out of work. It is also a sad time because it reminds people of
what they desire, a loving relationship instead of being alone, by one’s self.
For
many, Christmas has lost its true meaning: just an excuse for retailers to sell
their merchandise to consumers who feel pressure to give expensive gifts to
people who don’t really need another iPhone upgrade or bottle of expensive
perfume.
For
many children, Christmas means Santa Claus visiting on Christmas eve, placing
gifts, such as iPhones, Barbie dolls, Transformers, and other gifts of delight
under the Christmas tree. For other children, Christmas is a time to doubt the
existence of Santa. A century ago a young child named Virginia wrote a letter
to the newspaper, inquiring about whether Santa existed. The newspaper
responded with these words, “Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He
exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know
that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how
dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus. It would be as dreary
as if there were no VIRGINIAS”
For
some, Christmas is a holiday, a time of escape from a stressful, overworked
career or dreary, mindless work. It’s a day to relax, spend time with a girlfriend,
or the spouse, and the kids.
For
some, Christmas is still a religious and spiritual event, a sacred occasion to
celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, through singing of Christmas Carols at a
church service, Christmas is joy, religious joy, an inner joy of light and
peace.
Public
figures have said many things about Christmas: Bob Hope, the comedian and
entertainer once said, “My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned
or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have
to wait for Christmas to do that?”
The
late Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher commented, “Christmas is a day of meaning
and traditions, a special day spent in the warm circle of family and friends.”
Singer/songwriter,
Amy Grant, tells us, “Faith is salted and peppered through
everything at Christmas. And I love at least one night by the Christmas tree to
sing and feel the quiet holiness of that time that’s set apart to celebrate
love, friendship, and God’s gift of the Christ child.”
For
me, Christmas is all of these meanings and more. Despite the stress, the loss,
the materialism, the symbols of the season, the doubts of faith, I still
believe in celebration, listening to Christmas Carols, putting up the tree,
perhaps attending a church service, watching shows and films with a Christmas
theme, such as White Christmas or Christmas on 34th Street, exchanging of small
gifts, spending time with family, savoring a turkey dinner, remember those who
have died— grandmothers, uncles, aunts, as well as relationships that have
drifted. Most important, Christmas is about goodwill and peace to others, if
only for a day.
For
me, Christmastime also means contemplating another passing year, making New Year’s
Resolutions, bringing in the New Year with a few beers with a friend,
expressing hope for the future. I’m counting my blessings for another year of
happiness and good physical and mental health.
Finding
the real joy of Christmas comes not in the rushing to the mall, purchasing more
gifts. Nor is it uncovered by trying to make Christmas the perfect celebration,
nor is it felt by taking on the spirit of Scrooge, expressing words that are
like, “humbug to Christmas.” We discover joy when we learn to savor
the particulars of the Christmas season. Savoring requires us to stop and be
mindful, to experience the celebration with our senses and our spirit. For
instance, we can use our hearing to listen to the beautiful Christmas Carols,
such as O Holy Night. We can use our sight to fill the soul with the
decorations and colors of the Christmas tree. We can use our taste to
appreciate a tasty turkey dinner.
THE BOTTOM LINE: Christmas
is not a time nor a season, but a celebration. To cherish peace and goodwill,
to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas. To be
thankful for the gift that God gave us… His only Son Yahshua/Jesus Christ.
What does Christmas mean to ‘you’?
Thanks
for listening my friend! And Merry
Christmas.
-
de Andréa
Please pass on this
article to everyone on your email list.
It may be the only chance for your friends to hear the truth.
The Fine
Print
Copyright © 2014 by Bottom Line Publishing, All Rights Reserved
- Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided
full credit is given.
Disclaimer - The writer of this blog is not responsible
for the language or advertisements used in links to referenced articles as
source materials.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment