Good Morning - The Christmas Spirit
Published: Tue, 12/24/13
Tuesday, December 24, 2013 | ||||||||
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Good morning! While we check our light strings for working lights,
and gather cookie-making recipes, and confirm event dates, and dress
children for concerts and plays, let's not forgot to look for the
Christmas spirit in its most important place--our hearts. With
everything going on this time of year, it can be easy to be checking
externally for signs of the holiday, but we should be mostly concerned
with the signs within.
What is the Christmas
spirit, anyway? I posed this question to my daughter when she was ten
years old. I asked her, "If you could capture the Christmas spirit on
little pieces of paper, and tuck them into a bottle to last all year
...how would you define the Christmas spirit?"
She said, "What are you talking about Mom?" I tried again. "If someone were to ask you, 'what does the Christmas spirit mean,' how would you answer?" First she said "Bah, humbug." Then she started laughing, saying she was just kidding. She went on to answer: "It is about giving to other people more than to yourself." "The Christmas spirit
is being jolly and remembering all the things to be jolly for."
"The Christmas spirit
is about getting excited, and having belief, and magic, and faith."
"The Christmas spirit
is about having everybody available in your family together... except
if it is a really big outdoor dog."
"The Christmas spirit
means, even when you don't get what you want, you're still grateful for
what you did get." She paused thoughtfully. "I don't think I've ever
had that happen, but if you don't get what you want, don't start
yelling at the person, as they
tried their best." So, what is the
Christmas spirit? It is all of those things Samantha came up with and
more. The themes underlying all of her statements are gratitude, caring
for another, taking time to be present with one another, giving of
ourselves, expecting, and believing, and receiving magic.
Your Turn:
Today, take a moment to bring the Christmas spirit alive in your
household. Ask each family member, over dinner, to define the Christmas
spirit. Then post their answers on your refrigerator as your personal
family-reminder of what this season is all about. | |||||||
c) 2013 Brook Noel and Make Today Matter, LLC. For more information visit www.brooknoel.com |