Remember The Reason For the Season!

What is truly important in this time of year, the season of giving, a season of joy and for myself, the reason for the season JESUS!

All of look at this time of year differently, some absolutely hate this time of year over the sear reason that it’s a time of being forced to give and you may say no one forces anyone but truly people feel forced to give out of what they do not have in the form of gifts and when they can not give or will not give they are called scrooge.

I’ll admit this time of year is difficult for many who struggle to keep up with giving, often having family members, friends, co-workers and also those we do not know like your postman or women, the homeless, random strangers. I personally find that my words often have meaning when I give anyone anything so if sI give a small token to others I write a personalized card which most appreciate.

I have always celebrated the traditional Christmas as you can say, the tree, presents, Food, cookies sprinkled in with some kindness and love. But as the years go on my feelings for Christmas in general have changed as I no longer see the importance of gifts but know I will never skate by NOT giving especially to my daughter who is only ten and my wife.  My father, sister and other family members could care less if they get anything from me.

What I see when I go out today, is pure unadulterated consumerism people spend, spend, and spend on gifts that will go unappreciated, unused and wasted.

I often think of my favorite holiday films, “The Grinch who stole Christmas” with Jim Carrey having fond memories of watching this in the theater with a co-worker and friend at the Irvine Spectrum AMC. Why is that memory in a way so clear is because it’s a time when I was at my most free, going to college, with no responsibilities and I was the young age of twenty.

But back to my story, I like the message and how the Grinch tries to teach the WHO’s all of the waste they throw in the garbage, and he is the one who gets it. I can understand why, as if you have watched the film, he literally gets all of WHO Villes trash gifts. Cindy Lou, Who is actually the one who, helps open the heart of Grinch and the people of Whoville.

Sadly we here in the United States and parts of the world fail to see the importance of Jesus, Love , Kindness and that Gifts are not what’s important, but we are so programmed in our world to equate this time of year as gift giving and who can blame us because the story of Christmas and Saint Nicolas who was an actual person would take his wealth and literally give it to the needy.

I get angry going to shopping centers, malls and just going out in public during these times because people are at their worst, unkind, pushy, manipulative, rude, hateful and the list goes on. Yes I know I can shop online and avoid the stores but that is beside the point because its more about how people act during this time of year truly showing their true character, which is scary.

I’d like to think we are living in kind world, country but truly we do not.  People are tired, fed up and living paycheck to paycheck and this time of year pushes people over the edge and not just for financial reasons, but the way people are treated and how we treat our fellow man, women and child.  WHY I ask must we treat each other in this way, because gain we have been programmed to be greedy, take advantage of people, get what is ours.

I am truly tired of how we treat people , what is it going to take because we ALL treat everyone with more kindness and respect. Do we need a national disaster, do we need a war, do we need more hardship like a full blown depression before we wake up, I hope not but feel we are ripe for that. Only GOD knows what the future holds, but feel we are ripe for a full blown dictatorship and full authoritative state and then it may be too late. Will we not learn from history on the path we are on about focusing on things that are not important.

This time of year, love more, treat others with kindness, put aside the importance of expensive gifts for 1 time in year. Instead give your time, bake something, embrace people with your words of kindness and what they mean to you.

I am sorry to say during this time of year I too have gotten wrapped up in getting the perfect gift, charging it up on my credit cards, buy, buy, spend, spend only to discover it meant nothing but what I bought would go unused, regift, trashed and for what. Why not spend quality time together this time of year and truly appreciate what you have in this life.

Truly remembering the reason for this season!