Christmas Season, 2004
As a number of members of my family would not have been able to attend our traditional Christmas dinner on Christmas day, it was moved to Christmas Eve. The earlier timing did not prevent the joy of being together, the sharing of gifts, the music, the quiet conversations, and the total environment and of course, an excellent meal. On this festive occasion, four of my six children and two of six grandchildren were present. Those who could not be present were in other cities with one grandchild as far away as Australia.
The excellent dinner, as usual for such a festive occasion included all the expected trimmings with one exception, which was clearly identified when one diner remarked that what he really missed was the turkey stuffing. Immediately the “chief cook” remembered that she had left the stuffing in the turkey, and proceeded to meet the expectations of all the diners. It can be said that this Christmas meal will be remembered, as all those in the past as being most delicious, with the additional memory of the “forgotten” turkey stuffing.
Such joys of Christmas gatherings bring forth thoughts of those less privileged who may neither have families or who live at some distance from their families, and others who may not even have adequate shelter or sufficient food to eat. While it may be true that Christmas is a time where many individuals contribute some what to alleviate the suffering of others, thought coupled with action needs to be undertaken to assist the less fortunate through out the year as human suffering exists not only at Christmas time but every day of the 365 of the year. The spirit of Christmas, for Christians should extend to cover the entire year. Is this not a basic principle of Christianity?
It has been said that the Christmas season has become too commercialized. This no doubt may continue. As the non-Christian population increases, there may be demands to eliminate Christmas as a “religious” holiday and replace the name of Christmas with another, more neutral name. If this becomes the case, Christians will still be able to celebrate their Christmas as a most important day. The Christmas season by any other name will not prevent Christians from celebrating Christmas day in any way they might desire.
The excellent dinner, as usual for such a festive occasion included all the expected trimmings with one exception, which was clearly identified when one diner remarked that what he really missed was the turkey stuffing. Immediately the “chief cook” remembered that she had left the stuffing in the turkey, and proceeded to meet the expectations of all the diners. It can be said that this Christmas meal will be remembered, as all those in the past as being most delicious, with the additional memory of the “forgotten” turkey stuffing.
Such joys of Christmas gatherings bring forth thoughts of those less privileged who may neither have families or who live at some distance from their families, and others who may not even have adequate shelter or sufficient food to eat. While it may be true that Christmas is a time where many individuals contribute some what to alleviate the suffering of others, thought coupled with action needs to be undertaken to assist the less fortunate through out the year as human suffering exists not only at Christmas time but every day of the 365 of the year. The spirit of Christmas, for Christians should extend to cover the entire year. Is this not a basic principle of Christianity?
It has been said that the Christmas season has become too commercialized. This no doubt may continue. As the non-Christian population increases, there may be demands to eliminate Christmas as a “religious” holiday and replace the name of Christmas with another, more neutral name. If this becomes the case, Christians will still be able to celebrate their Christmas as a most important day. The Christmas season by any other name will not prevent Christians from celebrating Christmas day in any way they might desire.
posted by croweagle at
11:36 PM
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