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The traditional Christmas, as I remember, was very family focused when I grew up.  Christmas was for children when Santa came once a year, bringing toys for boys and girls to play with and to be happy.  It was a very peaceful and joyous time. 

As time went on, it became that gift exchanging was a tradition, gifts were giving to everyone in the family and to your friends.  We also started to expect gifts from family and friends.  Gifts were expected and who would give you the best gift. 

The real meaning of Christmas began to be scary and worrisome because your family and friends expected gifts, where we lost the real feeling of joyfulness and happiness. 

All we feel in these messy and dark days is anxiety over financial hardships, broken relationships, family tensions and constant grief over lost loved ones.                                          

The product of this messiness caused disengagement in the realism of Christmas. 

Christmas is when Child Jesus is born; it’s a joyous event to celebrate and to be grateful for that shining light.  God is coming to us as a light in our darkness.  This is a time to be PRESENT and to be focused again on the family that brings joy and peace.    

May you all have a very Merry Christmas and may you all have joy and peace in the coming New Year.

Peggy Clement