Christmas Is Here

Christmas is here and there will be peace on Earth and goodwill towards mankind.

But is there goodwill? Or is there even peace? How many of you spend the Christmas season running around from store to store complaining that you can’t find that special gift or complaining that someone took your parking spot or you get frustrated because of the heavy traffic? Does this sound like a peaceful Christmas to you? I know that I have heard some of my coworkers complaining that they are having a hard time getting all their Christmas baking done or getting their house cleaned before the company comes over. Sounds like it is a little less than peaceful.

I also know that there are some who curse the person who took their parking place or that they have to park a half a mile from the store entrance. Or even get frustrated in the long line up at the till and get angry with the cashier or the person who counts out the exact change. This does not sound like goodwill towards mankind. Putting a can of spaghetti sauce in the Christmas hamper is not the only way to show goodwill.

I believe that there can be peace on Earth and goodwill towards mankind if we just have a little patience and try to understand the people around us. The person who took that parking spot has just as much right to it as you do and that poor cashier has been standing on her feet for a whole shift, trying to be pleasant and helpful to those who come through her till, and that person counting out their exact change may not have any thing else to pay with. I know it can be hard to find that right gift, but I’m sure whatever you get will be fine. And if it is not, then the problem seems to be with the receiver of the gift and not the giver.

I think we forget what Christmas is all about. We should not let the commercialism of Christmas get us down, like it did to Charlie Brown and try to remember what the Grinch discovered; that Christmas is about being with family and friends, and it is not about what you get or what you give. So your house was not absolutely spotless and you didn’t get a chance to make all those cookies; were you not happy just getting a chance to spend time with your family and friends?

So next time you are feeling frustrated, angry or generally overwhelmed by everything you have to do, put your coat and boots on, grab your mitts and your toque and go outside. Don’t do anything but just stand there and look at the stars. Think about all those people that are special to you; remember those that have passed on, and say a few words for them. Reminisce about those times that were special to you and just relax, have yourself a little peace and think about the true meaning of Christmas.