My Christmas Wish

Christmas tends to bring good thoughts for most people.  I do feel sorry for those who do not get enjoyment out of the season.  But for those us who do get enjoyment out of it, the season seems to bring about feelings of good cheer.  We tend to be kinder by wishing friends and strangers a happy holiday, being more charitable whether it’s contributing to a food bank or a children’s toy drive, or helping people who may need such help.  In that way it is a wondrous time of year.  But in most cases it doesn’t last.  Life gets back to ‘normal’ after the New Year. But should it be that way. 

I recently listened to a Christmas song sung by John McDermott and written by J. Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn.  The song titled “The Secret of Christmas” seemed to capture this fleeting feeling of Christmas with the following lyrics, “It’s not the things you do at Christmas time. But the Christmas things you do all year through.”  Isn’t that a wonderful thought?

Suppose most of us could and would exhibit the kind of things that only seem to come out at Christmas time for all of the rest of the year.  Suppose we continued to greet people with a friendly word including strangers, those who serve us in stores and restaurants, those who we encounter each day, and our neighbours.  Suppose we were as charitable throughout the year by giving money or our time to worthy causes or people.  Suppose we helped others on a regular basis and were thankful for those who helped us.  Wouldn’t that make for a more comfortable society?  They say that one of the crises of our time is stress.  Doing “Christmas things” all year round would no doubt lessen things feelings of stress and anxiety. Another problem we have is loneliness.  At Christmas, we tend to socialize more and make more visits to family, friends and strangers.  Think how much the lonely would appreciate such visits on a more regular basis.  In addition to Christmas cards, send random cards just for the heck of it throughout the year.  It will make the recipients feel good.

At Christmas there is a habit of giving unconditionally.  Unfortunately, during the rest of the year, we expect a quid pro quo for any such giving.  Instead give unconditionally always.

So, my Christmas wish for all is do “Christmas things you do all year through.”