Open Writing

As Mark Twain once said, “Cold! If the thermometer had been an inch longer we would have frozen to death.” The snow can be pretty but wind and below zero temperatures aren’t so pretty. Yet, even if the weather gets a little difficult to deal with, there are so many things I love about Christmas time.

-I love getting cards and letters from friends and relatives in the mail. Some I only hear from at this time of year and it sure makes a trip to the mailbox worthwhile for actual cards and letters instead of flyers and bills.

-I love listening to all the beautiful Christmas music. Music seems to be in the air as we hear it in stores, on the radio, or from our own collection of Christmas music. Songs new and old but there’s something special about hearing songs from long ago such as Bing Crosby crooning, “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas” or the unmistakable voice of Elvis singing, “I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas.”

-I love watching Christmas movies. Some of the lines I know by heart but I never tire of watching, It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, or A Christmas Carol. Some of the newer ones are very good too and may one day be Christmas classics like some of the old ones. I like The Christmas Box and Timepiece that came out a few years ago.

-I love attending local school, church, and community programs. Some of the choirs and cantatas are outstanding.

-I love spending time with family and friends. It’s a good time to turn off the television, cell phone, and computer and do something together. It doesn’t have to be a big deal. It’s fun just to enjoy some hot chocolate, tell stories, make Christmas cookies/fudge, or sing Christmas carols.

-I love to take a car ride to see Christmas lights. There are always some folks who go all out with outdoor lighting and there are other towns around that have special lighting displays. Some of them aren’t very far away.

-Most important of all, I love the Reason for the Season. For a meaningful Christmas, attend a church where the story of the birth of Jesus is told. Besides the regular services, most churches have special events such as plays and Christmas Eve services.

If you look over the above list, you will see that most of the list doesn’t cost anything. Movies and music can be borrowed or checked out from libraries and most of the Christmas events are free of charge.

Christmas is also a time to remember to take time to reach out to friends and families who are in need. For many people, Christmas can be a very difficult or stressful time of year for different reasons. Some have financial needs due to loss of employment or very low income. Many parents feel the stress of not being able to provide gifts for their children at Christmas time. Sometimes it may not be a need that shows on the outside but an ache in the heart from being separated from family or a recent death of a loved one. Holidays are difficult because there’s a void created in our lives when a person we love is no longer physically present. If you know someone who is alone, go visit with him or her during the holidays or invite that person over to share Christmas with you.

Sometimes the gift of our presence is the best gift of all. After all, Christmas is about Presence:

"The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”). Isaiah 7:14

Pamela Perry Blaine
©December 2010

Website:
http://blaines.us/PamyPlace.htm

Pray what needs prayin'
Say what needs sayin'
Cause we're only here for a little while.
-Billy Dean