I find Christmas a very strange time of the year. Its essence I love: a time to give, a time to be with family and friends, a time to share. Yet its reality often leaves a bad taste in my mouth and a heavy heart. I ask, "Why relegate it to only one time of the year? Why not share the essence of Christmas throughout the year?"
I love that I get to shop and buy presents for people I love, mostly for the many wondrous children in my life for whom the magic of Santa still exists. I hate that anyone should feel duty bound to give at this time of the year when they don't have the money, the time or the want. No one should be expected to give old Aunt Maude a cheap, unthoughtful gift just because it's the thing to do. Much better to visit and spend time with the old chook throughout the year.
Oh, what a gift that is, the gift of time.
I love that I get to see dear friends and family at this time of the year, to drink, to celebrate, to catch up and be merry. I hate that I have to try to fit it into a couple of weeks, when there are another 50 weeks of the year to get together, share and be with the people I love.
Oh, what a gift that is, to spend time with the people I love and to extend a hand throughout the whole year, through the happy times and the sad.
I love that at this time of the year everyone begins to wind down and focus on other things in life besides work and the pursuit of the mighty dollar. I hate that for many that's a difficult thing to do. Some don't have homes to return to, while others return home only to find themselves sharing the Xmas turkey with strangers. Not to worry. A few cartons of beer, a couple of bottles of wine, the cricket on Boxing Day, that'll see 'em through until work begins again.
Oh, what a gift that is, to truly be able to switch off and catch up with the people I am close to in my life. To laugh, to cry, to open up my tender heart and drink in the love, not the wine. (Well, maybe just a few.)
I love that at this time of the year I am gifted with an abundance of food and drink that I can share with my dearest friends and family. I hate that not everyone is able to share in this great abundance and that for some the overindulgence is simply a means to drop out, slouch on the couch and sleep. I can only hope that someone hits me over the head with a cricket bat and demands I get outside for a game of backyard cricket.
Oh, what a gift that is, for everyone the world over to be able to share in the abundance of life, every day of the year. For others to temper their overindulgence and recognise that it's love that fills an empty heart, not food, drink or drugs.
I love that at this time of the year I get to think about these things and to remind myself of what is truly important in my life. The trick now is to remember it throughout the year to come.
Merry Christmas everyone. May you forever enjoy its true spirit.
2 comments:
A nice intepretatiom of Xmas. I have only one complaint (as I have a want to do):
Don't you think that between all the other celebrations through the year, that we have enough going on. You say that the rest of the 50 weeks of the year we should try harder??
We have Easter, Valentine's Day, Mother's and Father's Day, all the birthdays of family and friends to remember. I think between all of the above, we think of family and friends all the time.
My son and I make out-of-the-blue phone calls to relatives through the year, just to let them know we are thinking of them. That works for us.
You are right with two things though. The gift of our time is a wonderful thing to give, even though most people complain that "I just don't have the time"...and secondly, I think cricket on Boxing Day is a MUST...if you get hit on the head with a cricket bat for being a piker, well, you deserve it!!
Nice job, Rachel.
Well, Rach, thanks for being there for me, not only over the festive season but the other 50 weeks a year. Love you and love your blog! I've also updated mine - on weaning the good from the bad! xx
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