It’s that time of year again. I already hear the beginnings of the grumbling. There is so much pressure to find the perfect gift that so many people have forgotten what this time of year is all about. I have already heard it. “I don’t like Christmas because of all the presents I need to buy.” Yeah, Presents are great. I love presents, I won’t deny it. But is that all there is about this time of year?
For the next three weeks the smaller children will be making some variation of writing what they are thankful for on a paper feather or leaf. They will learn a watered down tale of crossing the ocean and the hardships of farming in a wild land. They won’t know about the sickness or the fear for many years to come. And if they learn about the Native Americans it won’t be exactly true. But they will be told to be thankful for the blessings in life. As adults, many people do the same thing on Facebook or twitter. Everyday there are multiple postings of “I am thankful for …” and we will be told about some part of their life that they deem worthy to acknowledge. As this whole process happens they grumble:
It’s too early for Christmas songs.
It’s too commercial. (as they spend hundreds of dollars on presents)
I have too many gifts to give.
Why do I have to send (insert least favorite relatives name here) a card.
I can’t believe it’s snowing!
Really, get over it. Christmas wouldn’t be so commercialized if we hadn’t allowed it too happen. That’s right every single one of us is responsible for letting this get out of hand. Fifty years ago we would have been laughed at for standing outside in the middle of the night to wait for a store to open. Ten years ago, we would have been appalled at the thought that someone other than emergency personal were working. This situation is our fault and grumbling about it is not going to fix it!
This year more than ever my Facebook is blown up with people who are too involved in their own lives to care about their neighbor. When did it become okay to say that the single parent out of work is lazy? When did it become okay for our children to mock a homeless man? Love thy neighbor as thyself. Isn’t that a rule? This time of year especially, we need to think about someone other than ourselves. We shop and we throw away and we shop some more. We bicker and we snap at the poor person behind the register. Just because our day wasn’t so great. What about their day? When was the last time any of us thought about that?
Do our presents really have to come from the store? Do we really have to shop on Thanksgiving day?When was the last time you really took stock of what you had to be happy about in your life? Really and truly. Yes, I am thankful for the roof over my head and the food we eat. Yes, I am thankful I have clothes and shoes. But more than that. Those are superficial really. I am thankful for the scheming glint in AJ’s eyes right before he tries to steal my cookie. I am grateful that there are arms to catch me when I fall and I am grateful for the love in my life. Those things can’t be bought. A shoulder to cry on, a shoulder to lean on, a hug, knowing someone well enough to have the spoon ready for their coffee. The real gifts in life.
Someone asked me what it is about Christmas that I love. It’s that feeling. The glowing, loving feeling that something good is going to happen. That there is good and love in the world. For some reason it only happens at this time of year. I wish I could bottle it. It’s that smell the air has just before it snows, it’s that feeling your heart has when you know with every fiber in your body that there is love in the world. Happiness, the look of awe on a childs face when they see Santa and the delight when something magical happens. That is what I love about this time of year. That can’t be bought.
Instead of grumbling, let’s try finding the love again.
Adeventures in Parenting 