In one of her writings, Ellen Webster states that her father gave their local, small town church, Christmas trees each year, with which to decorate. They smelled wonderful, were decorated in a simple manner, and enjoyed by all. That seemed to be a comforting thought to her – that he was so generous and could share the bounty of God’s blessings with others.
A photo of their 1892 Christmas gathering (that appears in my latest book) reveals her sisters, their boyfriends and husbands, her parents and a nephew, all in Victorian garb, and all gathered in the farmhouse that was the Hardy home in Hebron, New Hampshire. I found out that Christmas that year fell on a Sunday. The congregations that shared the one common town church must have had to do some fast scrambling to figure out which group would use the building and when.
The Christmas we celebrate today, with all of its commercial aspects, had its roots in the nineteenth century. For example, Christmas greetings were not generally exchanged until the commercialization of the greeting card industry. The antique card on the front of our website looks very much like a spin off of a Kate Greenaway illustration.
With the economy being uncertain, many people are cutting back on what they might normally spend. I am convinced that it not the quality of gifts that matter. Rather, it is the sincere good wishes to please another person, and to bring them joy (and something they would like).
Some Christians really wish to get back to basics. After all, the tragedy of the poor man who was trampled to death at Walmart should teach us that life itself is more important than trinkets. No gold bracelet or diamond ring, or pair of earrings will have any long term effect on your ultimate journey. It is in considering these matters that we can begin to learn and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas, an expression of God’s love for man.
My goal is not to superimpose my own religious/faith beliefs on my readers. Rather, I started out to say that I think that too much emphasis is put on material goods for their own sake. We will all live without a big screen tv, or the latest book (ok, maybe not), or the anything that is store-bought.
The meaningful essence that we can impart is a strong sense of family, a willingness toward forgiveness, and the joy of celebrating what we do have, rather than condemning what we don’t have. Re-think the goodness of other people and try to understand that we are all struggling with our own humanity. Christmas gives us hope that our lives are not spent, in vain. An even more important Christian holiday is Easter – with its promise that there is eternal life that is offered to those who believe.
Enjoy Christmas, and certainly, exchange gifts. Just keep in mind the word, “Simplify.” Often, you will find that the simple moments of life are the most unforgettable ones. Time is the greatest gift of all. This moment will not come again. Enjoy the season and find the joy that is there for the looking.
Patricia Cummings
