Don't forget the true meaning of Christmas
By
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To the editor:
Christmas seems to mean a lot of things to a lot of people these days. Trampling over other people on Black Friday to get the last deal in the store, or maybe punching or pepper spraying someone in the face to get the last Nintendo Wii on the shelf. (Which, by the way, you only "really" saved around $25.)
Maybe it's trying to get your children so many presents that they don't even appreciate one of them. Oh, and by the way, this does not include all the cars, computers, iPads, iPods, i-whatevers that you buy for them all throughout the year. It just seems to me that people have lost the true meaning of what Christmas is all about. It's almost as if we've all lost our minds.
Oh sure, I see no harm in letting the little ones believe in Santa. It's actually kinda fun, at least until they can fully understand the meaning of Christmas, which is … the birth of Jesus Christ. (Yes, the same one that is heard blasphemed on a daily basis in many households.)
Now, I am not a religious fanatic or anything. I have not been a great and wonderful person all of my life. I still like to shop, watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas Special," bake cookies, wrap presents until well after midnight, write out cards and take my grandchildren to see Santa at the mall, but I used to be like a lot of the people I see during Christmas. I missed the whole point. It was not until recently that I really began to think about it all and how it affected me and my family. That being said, I would like to express what Christmas does not mean to me.
Christmas does not mean getting, or giving, the most expensive toys.
Christmas does not mean injuring yourself or someone else while shopping for gifts.
Christmas does not mean bankrupting, begging or borrowing just to get your children the latest have-to-have items.
Christmas does not mean buying so many gifts that you are unable to see your Christmas tree through them.
Christmas does not mean ignoring your neighbors or turning your back on someone who you know is needful at this time.
Yes, Christmas is about giving. Just as the wise men brought gifts of frankincense, incense and myrrh to honor the birth of the Christ Child, so should we give a gift (or two, or three) in the same spirit. It's not about how much stuff we can get or give. We all have so much stuff that we will never use it all up in a lifetime. I am finding myself going through closets and drawers, discovering many things to donate. So you see, even that type of simple act isn't about whether you have extra money to spend or not. I realize a lot of people in our communities are below poverty levels. But I feel that everyone has something to give, whether it's clothing, time, money, whatever.
Christmas can be about baking things with your kids or grandkids, wrapping up the goodies and taking them to neighbors. Sending a Christmas greeting through the mail or to be handed out in person (emails don't count, people!). Christmas can be about donating food to our local food pantries or giving a monetary donation to a charity to help those less fortunate. Christmas can be about helping, running errands or giving a ride to someone you know.
Christmas is about spending time with the people you love. It's not for drinking in bars or shopping for more details. Don't think you have anywhere to go on Christmas? Shelters, soup kitchens, animal welfare shelters, hospitals … they could all use some help, even on this day. Especially on this day.
So "holly, jolly, let's keep all the folly," but let's also try to remember that Christmas is about Christ. Without Him, there would be no Christmas.
Oh, and before I forget, Merry Christmas! That phrase will not be removed from my vocabulary. (No matter how many times commercials on TV tell me otherwise.)
Sincerely,
Amy Pasqualini
Lynchburg[[In-content Ad]]
Christmas seems to mean a lot of things to a lot of people these days. Trampling over other people on Black Friday to get the last deal in the store, or maybe punching or pepper spraying someone in the face to get the last Nintendo Wii on the shelf. (Which, by the way, you only "really" saved around $25.)
Maybe it's trying to get your children so many presents that they don't even appreciate one of them. Oh, and by the way, this does not include all the cars, computers, iPads, iPods, i-whatevers that you buy for them all throughout the year. It just seems to me that people have lost the true meaning of what Christmas is all about. It's almost as if we've all lost our minds.
Oh sure, I see no harm in letting the little ones believe in Santa. It's actually kinda fun, at least until they can fully understand the meaning of Christmas, which is … the birth of Jesus Christ. (Yes, the same one that is heard blasphemed on a daily basis in many households.)
Now, I am not a religious fanatic or anything. I have not been a great and wonderful person all of my life. I still like to shop, watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas Special," bake cookies, wrap presents until well after midnight, write out cards and take my grandchildren to see Santa at the mall, but I used to be like a lot of the people I see during Christmas. I missed the whole point. It was not until recently that I really began to think about it all and how it affected me and my family. That being said, I would like to express what Christmas does not mean to me.
Christmas does not mean getting, or giving, the most expensive toys.
Christmas does not mean injuring yourself or someone else while shopping for gifts.
Christmas does not mean bankrupting, begging or borrowing just to get your children the latest have-to-have items.
Christmas does not mean buying so many gifts that you are unable to see your Christmas tree through them.
Christmas does not mean ignoring your neighbors or turning your back on someone who you know is needful at this time.
Yes, Christmas is about giving. Just as the wise men brought gifts of frankincense, incense and myrrh to honor the birth of the Christ Child, so should we give a gift (or two, or three) in the same spirit. It's not about how much stuff we can get or give. We all have so much stuff that we will never use it all up in a lifetime. I am finding myself going through closets and drawers, discovering many things to donate. So you see, even that type of simple act isn't about whether you have extra money to spend or not. I realize a lot of people in our communities are below poverty levels. But I feel that everyone has something to give, whether it's clothing, time, money, whatever.
Christmas can be about baking things with your kids or grandkids, wrapping up the goodies and taking them to neighbors. Sending a Christmas greeting through the mail or to be handed out in person (emails don't count, people!). Christmas can be about donating food to our local food pantries or giving a monetary donation to a charity to help those less fortunate. Christmas can be about helping, running errands or giving a ride to someone you know.
Christmas is about spending time with the people you love. It's not for drinking in bars or shopping for more details. Don't think you have anywhere to go on Christmas? Shelters, soup kitchens, animal welfare shelters, hospitals … they could all use some help, even on this day. Especially on this day.
So "holly, jolly, let's keep all the folly," but let's also try to remember that Christmas is about Christ. Without Him, there would be no Christmas.
Oh, and before I forget, Merry Christmas! That phrase will not be removed from my vocabulary. (No matter how many times commercials on TV tell me otherwise.)
Sincerely,
Amy Pasqualini
Lynchburg[[In-content Ad]]