Holidays

ARE YOU HAVING A MERRY CHRISTMAS

by Charles (Chuck) Robey
12/15/15
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Remember  that old cliché, "bah humbug?"  It was the phrase from Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol." 

Ebenezer Scrooge would say that phrase about things that he thought were nonsense or worthless. What about you ?. Is this the way you feel about Christmas?

Regardless how you may feel, it's upon us again. The season to be jolly.  The time of ornaments, red and green decorations, silver bells, holly, mistletoe and colored lights. A time to venture out in the rain or snow and pick out that "just right" Christmas tree. And a time to untangle that large ball of Christmas tree lights that you hurried to pack away last year.

It is also a time for that  universal mantra, "Ho-Ho- Ho",  to ring out in our stores throughout the land. And along with this anthem, comes the same old traditional  greeting, "Merry Christmas!," whether the participant is known or not, an enemy or friend. Or, even has a  merry relationship with the festive season.

Are you ready this year? Have you done your customary "last minute shopping," at your local big box toy store? What a hassle, you may say. Nothing new, however,  you always say that, this time of the year. It's the American way.

So, let's get on with it, the Christmas joy that is. First, there's Johnny's bike to assemble. Where's those instructions? Never mind, the back tire was left out of the box.  I'll just call the store. I know they will understand and be ready to help. Oops, the store is closed.

Next comes Sally's new doll. I know it will be okay. Don't tell me. A one eyed doll. Just what will I do now ?  I can't exchange the doll as it came from the same closed store. Christmas, Bah Humbug !

I can just hear the wife now,  "You weren't much of a  Boy Scout, were you? Why in heaven's name did you not check those toys beforehand?"  Why must she always brings "Heaven" into the mix when she's upset, I'll never know. Anyway, too late now to argue. I must go out, hopefully and find a store keeping late hours.

Does this scenario seem familiar? If so, do you still have that Christmas spirit?  But wait a minute, just what is the "Christmas Spirit?" I suppose it depends on the individual. To old Scrooge the Christmas spirit was three ghosts. To the spirits industry,  Christmas spirit always comes in a bottle. Others feel the Christmas spirit is a time of make-up with family. While still others feel the Christmas spirit should be expressed in a card, that has no intransitive meaning to the sender, other than the cost displayed on the back of the card. So, do you have that Christmas spirit satisfaction? That feeling  of gratification deep within your soul?  

Growing up,  Dad often defined the Christmas spirit contentment as that age-old feeling of being satisfied when you settled for a substitute, after not getting what you wanted from  Santa. You see, times were tough. I just knew, given my "Santa's nice list," I would surely get that Roy Rogers two gun set with the silver spurs.  Boy, what a cop-out. Bah Humbug! And I still remember hanging one of Mom's old silk stockings on the mantle, so as to get more. And don't forget that  "grown up" attitude of happiness, found in the stomachs enhancement of turkey, dressing and all the trimmings. For us kids, that too was a cop-out.

If you are still confused about the Christmas spirit, just look around you. The spirit of Christmas must be in giving, if the shopping malls and the mail is any indicator. Giving is fine, as I'm no Scrooge. But the giving still seems to leave a certain void, within many a counterfeit Christmas spirit. Don't get me wrong, I always put my pocket change in that traditional "red kettle." 

So, let us just get to the truth of the matter. What is the true spirit of Christmas? Is it parties ? Is it the fellowship of family and friends? Is it giving? Well, maybe a little of all. However, without that true spirit of love, love for our family and love for our fellow man, all the false concepts of given are of no avail. Simply put, what we need is that true  "Old Fashion" Christmas. A time when Christmas had its true meaning. Not just a holiday wave in passing.     

Yes, we all  can turn the Christmas "bah humbug" song. Into a time of true "Ho-Ho Ho," rather than a time of "Hum Hum- Hum." So, go for it, it's not too late to show your love.

 How does one show this love ? By simply putting Christ back in Christmas. For it was  the Father God's love that sent His only begotten Son (John 3:16-17)  to earth at Christmas to save us from our sin (Matthew 1:21). It was the angels, who proclaimed   Christ's  birth, to the lowly shepherds, who in turn made haste to worship the Christ Child (Luke 2:8-14). And was the wise men, who gave presents to the Christ Child (Matthew 2:1-12). So forget about all this "Happy Holidays" malarkey, and wish all a "Merry CHRISTmas". Yes, let's all get into the true meaning.

Author's Post Script

The time of the birth of Christ was just perfect, according to God's  will. Three things had to happen in the known world,  universal language, universal desire, and universal peace (Galatians 4:4-7). Do you have a desire for that  peace in your life  (Philippians 4:7)?