Christmas

Since it is Christmas Eve, what else could I blog about but Christmas? It always seemed to me that Christmas had evolved into a commercial holiday. Even as kids we got excited over the visit from Santa and had we been good enough to get what we wanted. Sure, we went to midnight Mass and celebrated the birth of Christ with prayer and thanks but I still wanted Rock ‘em Sock ’em Robots, an electric car set or whatever the latest greatest toys some other kid on the block had. My brother John got the Robots but he let me play with them once in awhile and my brother Mike got me the electric cars one year. We played with them for hours, usually trying to crash them instead of racing

I’m not going to postulate over remembering the importance of the holiday and the real meaning. I think we all know it and every year we remind each other about it in conversation. I have brothers who donate their time during the holidays by cooking or handing out meals and I think that is a wonderful act of giving which is a great way to recognize the true meaning and I’m proud of them. I’m more lazy than they are and use the Christmas angel route and give a gift to some child who may not otherwise get one or donate money to a charity that I’m into that particular year. This year I’ve decided to donate to St. Jude’s as it was my father’s favorite charity as it focuses on children in need.

My blog today is to encourage anyone who might read it to do something for someone they don’t know. Make a donation, work at a foodbank, help an older person load their groceries into their car… do something just for the sake of giving. The feeling of giving without receiving is enriching and in the true spirit of Christmas. I would like anyone who does something for the holidays in the spirit of giving to email me and let me know. Since you have to be registered with Google to leave a comment or be a follower of my blog to comment below, it may be easier to email me at sjcoffeybean@yahoo.com and put "Holiday" in the subject.

Merry Christmas, or whatever holiday you personally observe, and a truly Blessed 2009 to everyone.