The Greatest Gift of All

May have been right in front of you all along

I remember how exciting the Holiday Season was when I was young.  Heck, I remember how much more exciting it was just 20 or 30 years ago.  Oh yes, there was the hustle and bustle surrounding the whole gift buying ritual (and I’d say that’s always been the case), but there was something else there as well.  You could feel something in the air.  People always seemed to be just a bit nicer for some reason.  The grouchy guy next door would sometimes muster a smile and reluctantly mumble, “uh, Merry Christmas” under his breath.  The postman would smile, and though their mail bag or truck was full to the top they would seem to have a bit more cheer than usual as they delivered cards, letters, and gifts.  Families would come together and put most of their differences aside for at least one day.  The whole “feel” of the world would change for just a couple of weeks.  It was like a unified sigh of relief and respite.  Some people didn’t know why, others like me would credit lots of folks spending just a few minutes reflecting on the birth of a Savior for this chilling (in a good way) atmosphere. 

I am not sure where that is anymore.

Did we allow attorneys, general haters of anything good, God and/or “religion” haters, greedy corporations, corrupt governments, wicked “leaders,” and world events to steal this from us?  Did our desire to create an atmosphere of “tolerance” and “acceptance” steal what we knew in our hearts?  You know, “right vs wrong” the real truth (that really does exist) and the like?  Did we become so weak and spineless in our beliefs that we allowed wickedness, turmoil, rules, edicts, bans, lockdowns, and tyranny to determine how we celebrate what used to be an incredible holiday that welcomed one and all to join in the joy and celebration? 

Sigh… I do not know.  Maybe it’s just a combination of everything.  We became so focused on all of the evil around us (those of us who can see it) that we fell prey to that dark cloud that truly wants to kill and destroy anything good in the world, anything that makes people happy, anything that brings us together. 

I have found myself struggling with this darkness myself.  It is powerful.  I have new neighbors next to me and for a few months I’ve been that mean old guy next door.  I was unwelcoming.  I was aloof.  I was put-offish.  I was unfriendly.  Heck, I was an asshole (if I may be so blunt).  That attitude that I *chose* for myself came to an abrupt end just the other day after I was awoken from sleep at 1:30 am by the loudest music I’d heard in my neighborhood… ever!  I marched over to the new neighbor’s garage, barged in (people that I had never introduced myself to) and proceeded to scream at them for waking me up in the middle of the night.  I had my life threatened for doing so and afterwards I marched back home and could not go back to sleep.  

As I stewed about my behavior (and my neighbor’s behavior), I remembered something that I had kind of forgotten over the last few years:  Kindness and humbleness.  I decided that in the spirit of the season I must make peace with these new neighbors that I may have for 1 day or 20 years.  None of us knows.  So, I mustered the courage to go over and beg for mercy from them.  I apologized for having never introduced myself.  I handed them my phone number and offered help anytime they needed it.  In doing so, I found that these new neighbors had two children that are so quiet I never even knew they were there.  I found these new neighbors had 2 dogs that I never hear a peep from.  I found, dare I say, new friends who were gracious to me and made me feel small when I realized the restraint they had shown after barging in on them.  

You see, we have a choice of how we handle situations in our lives.  How we interact with one another.  How we celebrate the birth of a Savior in our hearts, our minds and, more importantly, in our actions.  We do not have to be mean and grouchy and let the cares of this world determine how we celebrate a sacred holiday or any day in our lives. 

Yes, my neighbor had their music so loud that it woke me up from a dead sleep.  But after talking to them, I found out that they did not even realize that the music was that loud and they didn’t know that the bedroom window was 25 feet from the garage where the music was playing.  They admitted they were wrong, but in my heart, I knew they were innocent.  I found out that malice was not in play whatsoever.  I found out that these people just want to live a decent life, raise their family and enjoy the good things.  As I talked with them while they were wrapping gifts in their version of celebrating this incredible time of the year I found that I had received one of the greatest gifts one can ever receive:  New friends. 

As you reflect during this incredible time of the year, be willing to humble yourself.  You may be delightfully surprised to find that the Spirit of the Christmas Season has not gone anywhere.  We’ve only suppressed it in our own hearts.  Let that excitement and joy ring true for yourself, your friends, your family, and yes, even your grouchy old man neighbor on the corner.  You may be surprised to find that this magical time of the year hasn’t gone anywhere.  It has been here all along. We just need to be willing to embrace it for ourselves and live it boldly.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my gracious readers and listeners.  Thank you for allowing me to have just a few minutes of your time every week for over a year now.  It has been an incredible blessing and gift.  I pray that all of you will find the Spirit of this holiday season in whatever way it comes to you and however you believe it.