I'm sitting here thinking so early in the morning, because that's what I do when I'm having my morning cup of coffee and my precious moments where I talk to the "Most High" above.
I am sitting here thinking about the holiday season; the festive lights and decorations and the crowded stores as people get their hustle and bustle on in preparation for the Christmas spirit. Folks running around like chickens with their heads cut off; going here and there and doing this and that as they try to find parking spaces and dealing with impatient, rude people who are scrambling around doing the same thing as everyone else....shopping for gifts and deals. If you live in the city, this could be very trying as you stand in long lines in crowded stores. Even going to the grocery store makes you feel like putting on boxing gloves when someone tries to cut in front of you, all because they are in a hurry. Or this scenero, when you are in a store and you don't know where the line ends, or which line goes to what numbered checkout; causing irritated folks to look at you with arched brows and a scowl on their faces. And there's the fact that as you stand there waiting and observing, the Christmas spirit does not seem to be nowhere insight. No smiling faces, just strangers looking miserable. Not even Christmas music playing in the background can change the irritated facial stares as folks rush to get it all done.
Being caught up in this scene in December makes you wish you done your shopping in June. Oh, and I'm not even going to talk about "Black Friday", the day after Thanksgiving. I'm not even going there, because it's another maddening day as folks prepare for the Christmas season or getting in the holiday spirit. Sometimes, these shopping angels come with cranky moods.
At times like this, it makes you happy that you have the option to shop online in the comfort of your home, way from the hustle and bustle of the streets and irritated folks. It is also much safer to shop online too. I remember going Christmas shopping at the mall one year, only to come out of the mall to find out that our car had been stolen. What kind of holiday spirit is that? It is very hard to say ho ho ho and Merry Christmas when that happens. This is just one side of the December 25th picture that gets to me. Like I said, I'm just thinking over my morning cup of coffee. Sorry to admit that there are no sugar plums dancing around in my head, maybe it will come later as the day nears. God knows I'm no scrooge either, because I love gift giving.
But now, that brings me to another side of the Christmas spirit. It makes me think of those who are less fortunate, those who can't afford to shop and give. Those who celebrate, but do not have the means, those who are homeless and those families that have problems feeding their households, let alone buying gifts. I think about the children who wonder why didn't Santa come to their house, why did he forget about us? How come Bobby next door got ten gifts, while Linda upstairs received one or none from the man in the red suit? Does Santa only deliver the goods to those with a house, tree and a chimney? Do you think there are some unfortunate children asking themselves these questions on Christmas morning when they jump out of bed? How they must feel when they see their neighbor's shiny new bike or roller blades, when they might be lucky enough to get a stocking filled with candy.
This time of year can be a painful celebration by those less fortunate and for children here in the United States and abroad who believe in Santa, but will experience a day that leaves them feeling neglected or left out. This thought fills me with sadness, because when Christmas morning comes, everyone will not be sitting around a cozy fire, opening gifts, singing carols with a smile and a surprised look on their face. They won't have the joy or feel the spirit of the holiday and this makes me feel sorry for the kids who experience this.
I pray that every child has the pleasure and the joy of waking up on Christmas morning and finding out that they have not been forgotten or overlooked, even if they don't have a decorated tree or a chimney for Santa to come down. Like I was saying....I'm just sitting here thinking and wishing that everyone will have a very Merry Christmas, somehow and someway. Because as I see it, there are 3 sides to this celebrated season of good cheer, and two of them will not leave you singing Jingle Bells or Santa Claus is Coming to Town. I mean, I'm just saying.......I think, therefore I write, so I hope my thoughts didn't put a wrinkle or crinkle in your holiday spirit.