Hello good readers!
The season is upon us once again and what does this mean? Rum! OK, so maybe not. But it is rather tasty in eggnog. No, my friends, it is Christmas, a time of gathering with family and friends to share in each others company. Now anyone reading this is probably wondering just how much rum and eggnog I've had by now. The answer being none as of yet. Over the course of the last year I have done my fair share of moaning and groaning about my life and my family and dear lord do they get on my nerves, etc, etc. When you get right down to it though, I love my family. I really do. And I love Christmas. It's a royal pain in the arse to get ready for and the shopping really sucks but that's mostly because there's some many people crammed into the malls that it's hard to move. Now a lot of people like Christmas because of the cool swag that you get under the tree and the candy in the stockings. Hey, I dig it as much as the next. Being the sucker that I am for chocolate, peeking in my stocking in the morning is great. But for me, what I love about Christmas is the giving. It's great sitting there in the living room and watching the kids open their gifts. "Oh wow! That's so cool! Thanks Mom and Dad! Thanks Santa!" Those words are just music to my ears. The looks on their faces when they find that one really special gift, the one they've been wanting all year. Or that one little trinket they'd mentioned to me last spring and thought they'd never get. To me, my friends, giving to others is what makes it all worth it. Giving to others and in return recieving love and gratitude. That's what I like.
This year has been made especially good. My family is large, eight kids plus Mom and Dad. We've never had a lot of money, though that's never stopped us from having a good time. But this last year has been harder than most. The car that my parents were trying to sell was vandalized about a month back, putting them a couple grand in the hole. So none of us were expecting a huge pile of stuff under the tree. Needless to say, you can imagine the shock on my face when I saw a veritable mountian of presents. Where had my parents got the money for this?!? The answer to that? A few of my mom's brothers and sisters each chipped in a little cash and sent it out to her so that the kids could have their Christmas. This, ladies and gentlemen, goes to show the bond of family. Still, I know my parents are still struggling with their financial burden. I love my parents very much, they've done the best they could raising me and helping me along the road of life. I'm not exactly flush with cash myself but where family is concerned, I'll go without if it means they'll have some. I'm gonna have to scrimp a little this month but seeing the wonder in my parents eyes when I handed them that money was worth it. Mom gave me a hug but she whispered to me, asking if I could afford to do this. The answer? Of course I can. Thing is, I know I have enough to cover my bills, so it's not like I really needed it. I would have wound up spending it anyways at some point or another, why not put it to good use.
Some of you are probably asking, what's your point? My point is, giving is what's important. It's not about what you get but what you give. After all, isn't that how this whole thing started? We, the people of this world, were given the ultimate gift by God. So give, and give with your heart.
Merry Christmas everyone.
Quote of the Day:
What child is this, who, laid to rest On Mary's lap, is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, While shepherds watch are keeping?
This, this is Christ the King, Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring him laud, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh, Come peasant king to own Him,
The King of kings, salvation brings, Let loving hearts enthrone Him.
Raise, raise the song on high, The Virgin sings her lullaby:
Joy, joy, for Christ is born, The Babe, the Son of Mary!
