Christmas comes, Christmas goes, it passes all too fast, it would be nice if we could find a way to make it last. (Sung to the tune of Jingle Bells).
Many folks I heard this season were anxious for Christmas to be gone forever. They said, “I’ll be glad to get back to normal” and “I can’t wait to take the tree down and get my house back in order.” When you know that for several years our tree has stayed to become an Easter tree, not taking ornaments or tree down till February, you see why getting through with Christmas seems a sad sort of goal to me. But Christmas mess and Christmas spirit aren’t the same thing ... and it is the spirit of Christmas that is represented by the Christmas mess that I wish we could find a way to make last.
I agree that Christmas celebrations are difficult to manage, and I really don’t know how working families find time to do everyday chores and add the extra work and time that celebrating a traditional Christmas requires ... just baking, tree trimming, wrapping gifts, not to mention shopping and travel probably add an extra month of labor in a few short weeks.
We really can get too busy to remember just why we are busy, just why we are giving gifts, just why we are making all the preparations so we do begin to think how nice it will be when all this is over then we can be normal again. Only, wouldn’t it be nice if Christmas spirits were to become normal and not only part of the season? Wouldn’t it be nice for spirit to be seasonless?
A special person said to me, “I really will never look at Christmas quite the same again.” She had just experienced the magic of Christmas morning with a 2-year-old ... and looking at Christmas through the eyes of children can help us all make the spirit of Christmas part of our everyday experiences.
Children’s eyes light up from within; their pleasure shows as their eyes, literally aglow, take in the magic and wonder of gifts and treasures selected just for them. Think of the many gifts we could offer one another during eh year that would help each of us to view each day more expectantly and with wonder? Think of acts of kindness you might do for another ... simple, unexpected and even undeserved gifts just for your pleasure in the giving.
The very best gifts are still those you want for yourself: gifts of kindness, tokens of affection and appreciation, notes of concern when friends are ill, cards to help celebrate joy or to share sorrow and let others know how much you care. Caring is the best fit of all and makes eyes and faces glow.
The tree and decorations may be put away to await the coming of Christmas another year. The spirit need not be packed with the trimmings. Keep in mind the joy and enthusiasm of a little child and keep the spirit, baby.
