December 18, 2024
Tis the season to be jolly! At
least that’s what the popular media, as well as most if not all of the
retailers would have you believe. For those children whose tradition includes the
celebration of Christmas, the words wonder, and magic would seem to be synonymous
with the Holiday. Yes, of course, they have visions of sugar plums – as well as
the latest new game or gadget or gizmo – dancing through their heads. Childhood,
after all, begins with a tiny human only being capable of thinking in terms of “me”
and “my”. But if we do it right, they progress from that state of self-obsession,
and eventually grow in the art of thinking beyond themselves to thinking of others.
I personally believe the
litmus test for reaching adulthood is when one thinks of others before oneself.
But I digress.
Part of the hustle and the
bustle of this season of Christmastide is the growing excitement, lights,
spectacles, and music. For many, especially those whose outlook is less “worldly”
this truly is a season of joy. Christmas commemorates the birth of Jesus, and
the Bible tells us that the angels, in announcing the Savior’s birth, brought “tidings
of great joy which shall be to all people”.
But for many, this time of
year can be an emotional mine field. Some people are grieving, and grieving is
a valid part of the life experience. Others are teetering on the edge of
solvency, and stressed by the constant struggle to put food on the table and
keep a roof over their heads. In our early years as a family, David and I often
struggled to provide a good Christmas for our children because our means were
spare. We somehow always managed, but I can’t say we always did so gracefully. The
effort to provide something special for Christmas often resulted in a scramble
to catch up that lasted at least two or three months after the event.
However, I can honestly say
that our children don’t recall a Christmas that wasn’t special. That’s a major
source of quiet satisfaction for me. They never saw the worry or the anxiety back
then. And that was one of our major achievements.
There are toy drives, and
Christmas baskets, and they are amazing things. If everyone gave something, then
a lot of people would be blessed: not just the recipients, but the donors as
well. Give what you can, and know that doing so is a very good thing.
Christmas can be especially hard
for folks grieving, because joy is the polar opposite of grief, and the more
joyous something is, the more the contrast between the two can cut and wound.
It’s good to be mindful of the
people in your orbit, to be sensitive to those whose lack of joy may be tied to
circumstances not easily visible. They might not just be budding Scrooges, bah-humbugging
their way through December. There may be something they’re struggling with,
something they’re worried about or someone they are missing desperately, that
you don’t know about.
Sometimes the best thing you
can do – the best gift you can give – is one of your time and attention. Often,
you don’t even need the right words to say. You may not even need words at all.
Sometimes all you need to do
is listen. Even though we all have two ears and only one mouth, most of us don’t
use them that way. Most of us don’t listen nearly enough.
If you know someone who may
not be able at this time of year to “get into the spirit of the season”,
perhaps you could take them for coffee. Be there for them, let them know they
can say whatever they want, or even say nothing at all.
By giving someone who is
hurting your time and attention, you’re showing them that they matter. And that
you see them.
And sometimes that can be a
most amazing gift.
Love,
Morgan
https://www.bookstrand.com/morgan-ashbury
No comments:
Post a Comment