Christmas Pressure

I was thinking,I know, your all thinking, "what a novel thing to do".
But honestly I was.
I was thinking about the holidays, and how depressing it can be.

Mom laid up with the broken hip is worried about not being able to do the things she usually does. Which is spend obscene amounts of money on all of us choosing to disregard our pleas for her to just take it easy.

Matt in Iraq.

We're having a normal winter here in the Northeast, so business is bustling.

Then as I sat at our Monday Rotary meeting enjoying a perfectly prepared prime rib dinner and listening the the local high school a-capella choir sing wonderful Christmas songs it came to me.

Christmas isn't about what we have and don't have.

It's not about whether or not we can all be together.


It is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ.
So why do we worry so much about finding that perfect present for everyone?
Why do we worry about being careful to spend equal amounts of money on each of our relatives?
We work so hard at this that we go into a frenzy.
For what?

When all is said and done it's the simple things that mean the most.
A thoughtfully written card.
A special hand made gift.
A kind word.
To be told by those most special to us how much we mean to them.
The simple present that was obviously thought about and given with love.
A present selected merely for value will soon be just another belonging and we will forget who gave it to us.
So I've decided to do what I can, with a lot of thought, for those who are important to me.
And while I will certainly have many thoughts about Matt, and probably shed a tear or two of sorrow for his not being with us.
I will give thanks for the two sons, wife, mother and many friends that I am blessed with.
I will take the time to pause and reflect on the many blessings I have, and if for just a minute, relax and enjoy.
I hope y-all, (Southern New Hampsha), will do the same.