Christmas is suppose to be a joyful time. For those of religious mind it is a time to remember and to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I was raised in a Catholic household and Christmas was a very special time. Unfortunately for some Christmas brings nothing but worry, hardship or a flood of bad memories.
As an adult, I still appreciate Christmas but I certainly don't look at it as a religious celebration anymore, but rather a time and opportunity to slow down in life, to reflect and be appreciative all the gifts we have been given. It's a time of remembering that Christams is a time of giving......and it's not the materialistic giving but rather giving from your heart.
Christmas for me today is a time when I and I hope society tries to remember we need to give back. We need to do our "giving" in a way that helps.
I grew up in a family of 12 children....but you know I never ever felt I went without. My parents did not only provide for their family, but they were volunteers extraordinaire. Even at the busy time of Christmas my father would head up the committee for decorating the church, or organize the community breakfast. My mother somehow found the time to purchase gifts and prepare a food basket out of her own money for one of the more needier families in our community. She would then have myself and another sibling go and deliver the parcel. I remember asking my mom why she did that and her response was simple "because I can...we can". I didn't quite grasp the full meaning of those words until much later in my life.
My parents commitment to helping their community had the ripple effect not just on me but for many of my siblings as well. I see now that ripple has touched my daughter as well....for the past 4 years she goes and helps serve Christmas dinner to the homeless. This year she tells me she is going to the Downtown east side to help out at the shelter. Although she has never said it, I know that is her way of giving ....she tells me it gives her great comfort knowing that she is able to do something for someone..."just because" she could.
Wouldn't it be nice if we could all remember to do just one thing nice....to give just once from the heart....."just because". What a wonderful world this would be!
Merry Christmas
2 comments:
This is so wonderful to read.
Anything that's from the heart...is a gift that will be harder to part.... so its extra special.
*smile*
Merry Christmas!
Very well put, Mary Anne!
Because I am supposed to be dieting (and exercising too) I had initially thought I wouldn't do any baking this year -or extremely little, if any -but I'm thinking perhaps I will bake a little more than that and then, package up little trays of cookies to give to folks around me who live alone or maybe just don't have the ability, overall, to do anything like baking cookies, for themselves. Perhaps take Maya with me to deliver these little packages too and begin instilling the giving and sharing concepts as early as possible within her. (Better cross your fingers and hope any baking I do get around to doing all turns out okay though too! LOL)
Peace, Merry Christmas and God Jul!
Post a Comment