Its is the season. . .

The Silly Season is Upon Us

Many refer to this time of year as the Silly Season, in my book that's a pretty good description. Society tells us its time to be Merry, Happy and celebrate the year, for too many that require the consumption of alcohol to party and for others to still the pain of life. Not only do some of us drink to much, but eat too much and don't get enough sleep! Which is silly don't you think?

At anyone time 100% of people will never be happy.  Christmas or holidays for many are lonely and fully of pain.  I think of those who lost love ones this year.  But also those who will stop to reflect on the lost of a love one during the Christmas season's past and for some of extended family this is the case.  Their sadness is remembering the lost of someone who brought love and joy to their lives.  Others will sit with those who are terminally ill and will say good- bye to someone they love.  For these joy comes in being sad and is silly to ask them to celebrate Christmas?  

We have fallen on hard economic times, especially in my city.  2018 in my city has not been great. Its been an unsettled year, that has at times divided a city, and we have taken our pain, hurt and disappointment out on others.  Sometimes those 'others' were not even directly involved in our cities struggle.  While I celebrate small gains, some of my friends have lost dearly.  Some have no money for Christmas presents and some will not be having Christmas lunch. 

Even is the best of times we spend more on Christmas lunch than we do for the average weekly shop.  Christmas lunch takes days to eat and longer to remove from our tommies. They silly things is most of us have brought the lie and celebrate the holidays the way we are conditioned.  For some their hearts cry when Christmas doesn't reflect on what it means to them.   How silly this is?

I have my own private struggle as I receive gifts, I can not use and food I can't eat due to allergies.  I have more things in my home that I will never use despite giving much away.  If it's the thought that counts . . . its the gifts that people actually purposefully brought that mean the most.  A friend bought me chocolates, she called that lazy, but in truth she selected chocolates, that were to my tastes not commercial chocolates. . . That takes thought and care, another drove across town to by my favourite tea,  Just a packet of tea, no! Tea I drink sparely as a treat. Another noticed I could use a new wallet.  My best friend knows I have allergies and brought me a cookbook for allergy suffers.  These are special thoughtful gifts. Silly how others think its about how much was spent and have debt to repay after wards.

Christmas for me is about the greatest gifts, the blessings of family and friends that are thoughtful in giving their time and support and love 365 days of the year.  Not once a year out of obligation.  Christmas reminds me how rich I am.  Not only do I have more friends than most I am blessed with friends who share my values and know me well. Friends that genuinely celebrate my health and regaining of strength. Friends that share whats important. Friends that reflect on what Christmas should be about. 

Peace

Without love we can not have peace, 

without stillness and contentment we can have not peace,

without security we can not have peaces, 

without understanding of self we can have no peace,

without true peace in our soul we can not have joy.

Joy

Joy is independent of happiness,

It is not dependent on people or processions,

Joy is born of security,

Joy is part of belonging,

Joy is feeling secure even when, 

the year was unkind.

Joy is counting blessing rather than what is lost. 

Joy is the hope of things to come. 

Hope

Hope looks to the future,

Counts current blessings,

but looks forward to more,

Hope has enough love within us,

to step forward even when it hurts,

Hope recognizes truth and honesty,

and value the pain of the journey. 

Personally I find these three things in the person of Jesus Christ, the on who taught me about true love and that peace, joy and hope could be mind in the abstance of worldly happiness. Christ love me  enough to find security, stillness and joy in the presence of pain and suffering. Christ gave me life and reason to hope.  Whether life gets better or worst, with my eyes fixed on the author of hope and eternity, my heart sings of peace, joy and hope. 

Christmas doesn't need to be Silly.  If we attach meaning and use that as our foundation. Christmas may not be the Christ child's Birthday, thought to be September,  it may have pagan roots and Coke-a-Cola inventing Santa Clause based on the Chacoltic Saint Nicholas, But its the season I remember Jesus Christ's personal gift to me.  The day God gave up his own, to live and die for me. 

Because Christ showed me how to love, I have peace, joy and hope. These are independent of the world around me. If I could have anything this Christmas, it is more people in the world understood how to live with the peace, this joy and eternal hope.

Christ child born to die on a tree,

This is what Christmas means to me.

It is the season to remember 

This gift was given to me.