What Is It Really???

What is Christmas?

Is it the presents? (Those gifts we get many of which we don't want and do not need.)
Is it the shopping, the fighting of those crowds on black Friday or any other day up to the 24th of December?

And if it isn't that, what is it?! Christmas use to be about family first (Think the best loved and most requested song from WWII, "I'll Be Home For Christmas."), and about taking time for faith and remembering. It may be an American holiday now, but it began as a religious ceremony first - Christ's Mass. Christmas.

It is NOT a holiday created by the retailers, though you certainly would think so by the way they hook us with all those things we don't need.

So at least spend the time revisiting your priorities. Family and that special closeness that comes from a shared faith and love.

These Days

The season of anticipation is one I adore...but not for the presents, nor the constant Christmas music that haunts the the halls of our local mall. The season holds something that not many others hold. Hope.

At the beginning of the dark and sometimes snowy season lies the hope of spring time, and a hope that people and families will look at what has been lost in fighting and work toward making that thing we call reconciliation. It doesn't always happen. Sometimes Uncle John is still as obnoxious, and that cousin might stay angry, but we all have a vision of a family together at the Holidays whether it comes off or not.

So, we all clean like crazy, and look for that perfect gift that will make someone see that will be excitement and fill all with that warm feeling. Know understand, I'm not mocking the traditions that we know as Christmas today. It holds special gifts for many, but not for me. Christmas for me means so much more than things you can buy or make, or even the snow that covers the gray of this season for us here in the North.

Christmas to me is... The time that time to gaze out the window with someone special and enjoy the cars not flying as fast they do courtesy of the slick roads; sharing tea or coffee with a friend and dwelling on the warmth it provides after shoveling; watching the birds feed at the many trays and feeding stations I have all over my yard; calling people to catch up with their lives and sharing a smile and sometimes a giggle, you get the picture! I could honestly go on forever so I will finish with the simple thought of time as a gift. I will be taking time to enjoy and revel in the time to share, to talk, and to reflect on life in general. And to share smile - just a small smile to pass on to the world.

Who Was St. Nicholas?

It's Sunday night and I'm sitting in front of the computer wondering, "What am I going to write my article weekly on?" Usually, I have it all planned out and my writing time is usually spent simply putting the research and my ideas down on paper. Tonight it isn't coming out very well. So here I sit thinking about Thanksgiving, a sick aunt across the country, anything but the article I need to write!

Okay...I need to focus. St. Nicholas - the Dutch St Nicholas Day - the Dutch-American holiday and what they all say about the holiday that has become a integral part of the world's psyche.

What and who was this saint of children? This saint who was also cared for those in need and those who need to be uplifted? Hmmm... So many questions about a person who n one can even prove really existed. And yet, the reason we celebrate his life is because his radical giving that went way beyond our basic ideas of charity, and kindness. He went outside the box of what we even think of as compassion today. You know, giving money for a good Thanksgiving, a toy or two to the Toys for Tots drive.

Hey, I think I might have an article here! Who was the real saint, and what does the celebration really mean today? Thanks for listening! Oh, and have a great Thanksgiving, and a thoughtful St. Nicholas Day on December 6th!