Christmas

When you see or hear the word "Christmas", what do you imagine? What do you think of? Do you see Santa Claus with his gifts, elves, sleigh and reindeer? Do you see a baby Jesus with a halo, lying in a box, with images of his parents around and animals? Do you think of the snow, either with dread and disgust or with hope and joy? Family gatherings and repairing friendships? Gifts under a tree? A shopping mall crowded with people, trying to fulfill some cultural rule of gift-giving?

Many people know that Christmas is not the actual date of Jesus birth. Many know that the celebration was moved to coincide with a festival of life in death, life in winter. It's funny, society has been trying to turn Christmas into a gift-giving celebration where everybody spends lots of money. So many people don't want to bother with God, but they celebrate Christmas. The origin of the word isn't hard to find. Christ-mas. Christ Mass. Looks rather Christian to me, at the very least it's Catholic.

A friend of mine had her Facebook status saying she wanted Christmas to be here so she could get the phone her parents had bought for her. If you know what the gift is, does it really count as a gift anymore? It's more of a obstacle to be removed. Now the dinners and parties become a hindrance of something you want. You finally are handed the box, and instead of excitement, you feel impatience. You get the phone out of the packaging, set everything up, all the Facebook and twitter and such, while mumbling a few pleasantries, and then start texting your friends and asking for numbers and everything. You ignore the people who bought it for you, and move on.

I know that not everyone does this. I just think that our generation has enough trouble with impatience. And letting someone know what their gift is, doesn't help. I know some kids will be like this whether the know what the gift is or not, but it is still ridiculous and rude.

Why do children behave this way? It's like the lawsuit that's come up against McDonald's. Parents are suing them for including a toy with every Happy Meal, when the Happy Meals are so unhealthy. Parents are saying that they are forced to buy the meals for their children because the children continue to demand the toys.

Why do the parents find it so difficult to say no? They know they will be throwing the toy out in a matter of days in any case. Why not buy their children something healthier, and tell them they can't have that toy? I know that my argument might carry more weight if I had children of my own, but I do not believe it is that difficult to refuse a child something. If you simply give the child everything they ask for, you either have issues with refusing anyone, or you do not pay enough attention to your child to care.

However, despite all the mess that people have created, the younger generations are breaking through the landslide of B.S. and are learning what Christmas is supposed to be about. How to spend their Christmas in a way that leaves them feeling better about themselves and others. They volunteer with food drives, shelters, gift drives, clothing drives. Some help out with Out of the Cold. Other's try Pay it Forward. Some go and shovel a neighbor's driveway. A small gesture, and many of their neighbors could have shovelled their own driveway, but it makes them feel better about themselves and everyone else feels better too. Their neighbor feels grateful that they don't have to do it, the youth next door saved them time. The neighbor is in a better mood and will therefore treat others better. It's an amazing chain effect.

So many people worry about expensive gifts. They don't have to be expensive. If the person you are giving the gift to worries that you will give them a cheap gift, I think they need to be reminded why you are giving them a gift. A gift is a sign of friendship. It's a way to make up after an argument or disagreement. It's a way to let someone know you care and are there to be friends with them.

If you want to make a gift extra special, make it yourself. You want to give someone a necklace with a fancy symbol on it? Then buy the chain, and use wire or pilecleaner or craftpaper to build whatever you want to decorate the necklace with. If you don't want to make something, then find a gift that is special in some way. Something that reminds you both of a favourite joke, maybe a gift that has images from a vacation you took together. Think outside the box you might get from the toy store.

We all have seen the movies that retell the story and meaning of Christmas. We all have seen the pagents, plays and skits that tell us of children and old men who learn the meaning of Christmas. If you are not sure about the meaning of Christmas, then set some time aside to talk with a friend or two and talk about what it might be. Debate it. Once you figure out what you believe the true meaning of Christmas is, I would say act on it.

I wish everyone safe travels in these days of celebration. God bless you and yours, and have a Merry Christmas!

Samuel Tyler