As Andy Williams sings, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” As the holidays are now full upon us we need to remember during the hustle and bustle to stop and smell the gingerbread. It’s easy to get caught up in the rush and if you do get caught you could wind up missing all the fun.
When I was a kid, I like just like most other kids could barely contain my excitement awaiting the visit from St. Nick on Christmas Eve. Over my childhood years I had many wonderful moments over the holidays. One of the most memorable was the Christmas of 1961. My sister Robin had been born in October and we had the joy of a beautiful baby at Christmas, just a bit like the Christ Child. Santa brought me some really wonderful gifts. But my favorite was a game from Parker Brothers called “Battleship.” It was part of their American Heritage Game Series. I believe Santa had my Dad in mind, too. We played the game many times over the years and bonded over its game board.
My favorite carol was and is “Oh Holy Night.” Hearing it still makes my tremble with joy and hope and fills me with the spirit of the Christmas season. I also love to hear Nat King Cole sing “The Christmas Song.” Its gentle lyrics and sweet melody help me to give pause and remember what the season really means to me. My Dad, Bob, loved Christmas and got as excited as a little kid on Christmas morning watching his family open presents and enjoy the day! As an adult I feel the same way on Christmas morning.
One of my most treasured Christmas memories is of my father-in-law Ed Collins. Eddie Blue was a friendly, out-going man but at Christmas he really came out and loved the season — particularly after his granddaughter was born. He adored her and she was crazy about him. Watching them interact under the Christmas tree gave me great joy! Ed also made a beef roast for Christmas dinner, especially for me! How could I not love a beef roast for Christmas dinner? Ed has been gone now for a long while but I still miss him. I have wonderful memories of him to warm my heart, however.
The last few years a controversy has grown about the Christmas greeting. There is an argument certain groups are trying to take Christ out of Christmas. Sadly, it has become more of a political argument than a spiritual one. If they are talking about the over-commercialization of the holiday and spending a lot of money just to be spending, then I am with them. But if they are demanding that they also be greeted by everyone they meet with “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays” or even just “Hello,” I’m not. Their argument is that the baby Jesus is the reason for the season — a political rhyme that Bill O’Reilly coined. This is historically inaccurate. They are several religious holidays happening during the month of December which have great meaning to different faiths and are as valid as Christmas is to Christians. To me it is much more about ego and conceit than it is about faith. So if you are offended by hearing “Happy Holidays” or “Happy Hanukkah” then it’s you who are missing the real spirit of Christmas.
