There
are a variety of ways that people will celebrate Christmas, depending on
traditions, how they were raised, family get-togethers and so much more. The most obvious being how we celebrated
holidays as children within our own families.
Most of us just go off of tradition.
Okay, nothing wrong with that, I am sure! So, what is it that I am pondering
today? Well, funny you should ask…..
And, who knows, it just might make the world a better place, by starting with one person at a time!
What
I am pondering this morning as I sit here writing this is quite simple
really! I am pondering the need (that we
as a society seemed to have made for ourselves) for commercialization. In other words, I am pondering the need of
running out practically every single moment before Christmas to find that “perfect
gift” or to make sure that every single person in your life knows that you are
thinking of them, regardless of what your relationship to them might be or
might have been! I mean, come on, now
let’s get with it people! You don’t have
to “insist” on gifting to every single man, woman or child that you might have “passed”
or had a quick conversation with at one time.
The
true and most pure form of Christmas is when we sit back, relax and just enjoy
our families. We are SUPPOSED to do
that. We are supposed to enjoy the
gathering of the family and the conversation that goes with it. But, even more important than that, we are to
gather with one another and remember that Christ died on that Cross to give us
everlasting life. Christ died in order
to save us!
That
is amazing in itself. I mean, who really
does that? Think about it! I know that I would not hang from a cross in
order to ‘free’ my fellow man! I
honestly don’t even think that I would have been able to utter the words to the
thief next to me, “Forgive them Father, for they have sinned.” I don’t think that is in my nature!
What
I do think though, is that with each passing year, we are given yet another
opportunity to show the love, kindness and dignity that Christ showed to us
when he was on that Cross. We are given
the opportunity to treat each other right; do the right thing; even make
someone else’s day just a little bit brighter.
I
have learned through my own experiences and travels, that sometimes the best
way to light up another person’s day is just to ask them a simple question, “Are
you doing okay, today?” It is amazing
what the responses are that I have received!
And, trust me, as you stand or sit there listening, you just might learn
something about someone!
We
have amazing opportunities. We are given
amazing abilities each and every single day.
So, instead of complaining about what you DON’T have, why don’t we learn
to appreciate what we DO have?! Now,
that would be a truly novel idea!
And, who knows, it just might make the world a better place, by starting with one person at a time!
