I found the above photo posted online. I do not know anything about the organization that published the reminder, but I do appreciate the reminder very much.
I struggle with the holidays every year for a variety of reasons. This year it is a combination of my little ones being incredibly weepy with the idea that their daddy is not here physically to enjoy the holiday festivities with them and the pressure we place on ourselves to have gifts for each other. There are toy drives and food drives and activities for all kinds of charities around. I have chosen a local firehouse this year that has a ‘Breakfast with Santa’ day to take my children. The money for the entrance fee and activities all goes to the volunteer fire department. It also allows my children some fun. The other activities, are just not possible this year with a tight wallet.
I wonder about my own choices and then consider the people that do not even have a house in which to be in this Christmas. I have that. I have a paid for house because of money sent to us after Dean’s passing. Also a great gift. A gift that I find that others do not have. I know of a young single mother who was recently forced to move into her parent’s living room because the cost of working and day care to work had become too much to also afford living expenses. I know of other families that are dealing with loneliness because of loss, cancer, the possibility of MS, and others with financial issues. All in this season when it is supposed to be the brightest, the most filled with hope.
All though our human existence we needed reasons to celebrate at this time of the year, at least in the northern hemisphere parts of the world. It is literally the darkest and will remain so until after the winter solstice. It is the coldest, it is the time when activity slows and bellies sometimes get a bit plump due more to inactivity than anything we may or may not be eating. Now place the consumerism and the pressure of making sure it is a Merry Season, especially when one has children, and the season can be out right painful.
My Christian friends will tell you that the birth of Christ is the reason that they celebrate this time of year. For them it is a world of hope brought to them in the form of God made man.
For me, there is a realization that in this darkness, stillness, and sharing through charities and parties and families coming together that for some reason we as humans need a season and a reason to remember how we can be all year round. Perhaps this season is in this time of year because it is so dark and cold and it gives us a wonderful excuse to do all these wonderful things. Unfortunately since it is THE TIME of the year, the ones that are not able to participate for whatever reason sometimes feel less than adequate. I also hear and see people bickering about the ‘real’ reason to celebrate and do kind things and get together with friends and offer gifts to one another. Really, does it truly matter?
My son had a little ‘Santa’s Workshop’ at school earlier this week. He was to take money to spend on presents that he got to pick out for others. We made a little list of the people he may want to give to and we found some money in our household piggy bank to put in his envelope. Up until that point this season I was very melancholy myself about the whole culture of gift giving this time of the year. I had been receiving invitations to attend and be apart of toy and food drives when having those things for my own family was in question. He was soooo excited about the opportunity to shop FOR OTHERS. He came home explaining what he got and for who and how proud he was that he would be able to share those things at Christmas. He, even though he had a little money left over, chose not to buy anything for himself that day, only for other people. He is 6. My brain has been working over time on how to keep this spirit alive for him ALL YEAR long.
This morning he and his 5 year old brother were up ridiculously early. Well before 6AM. They were in their room with paper and colored pencils and pens creating a little book of pictures and designs. I could hear them cooperating, enjoying and deciding just how big “Best Mom Ever” would be written on the cover. They needed something to be under the tree for me.
I have heard many times that children are on this planet to teach the adults and not the other way around. This has certainly been true this week. As the Grinch finds out it is the size of the heart that matters. NOT what religion you are, if you even subscribe to a particular religion, the external reason you are celebrating, where and how you understand your traditions. It is the complete sharing of the heart. LOVE always wins.
Special thanks to my little ones for the beautiful reminder. Enjoy your season. Love and Light be yours and be shared by you.