The Day Itself
December 25th 2006 06:35
When my kids were young, we had certain Christmas traditions. They baked and decorated cookies for all the neighbors (especially for the senior citizens among them) and delivered them with shiny bows and mistletoe on the packages. They went to the store with whatever we could afford and bought gifts for each other, carefully wrapping them later. During Christmas week, they went carolling to nursing homes and gave their older toys to the local charities. It wasn't a season of greed for them, it was a season of giving. My daughter has kept the tradition going with her own family. She took a load of used clothes, coats and toys to a local homeless shelter. Her children baked and decorated cookies for the people in the shelter, too. Their home is a delightful array of Christmas decorations, including a beautiful tree and the excited children awaiting Christmas morning. Some traditions take hold and prosper through the years, brightening many lives along the way. I'm glad that our family traditions have done so. As we sit down on Christmas morning to watch our grandchildren open their gifts and later eat at our daughter and son-in-laws table, we have many things to be grateful for. A beautiful family, an abundance of holiday cheer, and a country that allows us to celebrate in our own way. My only complaint is that the War on Christmas is still going on. Those of us who habitually celebrate the holy season will not allow our joy to be dimmed by the leftist assault on holidays. My concern is for those who don't have old traditions to remind them of the giving nature of Christmas. Will they, in another generation, forget what the holiday is really about? Or will there be a new awakening of faith and hope that springs from the human spirit and blossoms forth, even in the snow (or heat wave as some countries have during December... Australia leaps to mind!) Build your family traditions while your kids are young or get them started any way you can. This is the season to celebrate and share your own good fortune. Gifts and kindness should abound all year, but especially during the holiday season. Merry Christmas, folks....
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