Monday, December 22, 2008

A Holly, Jolly Christmas?

Last night I was awake wondering just what makes Christmas holly and jolly. I remember as a child having wonderful Christmases. It started early Christmas Eve and lasted through Grandma's birthday on the 28th. Christmas was a time of family, friends, sledding and good food. It was also a time to focus on the birth of Christ and celebrate our Savior.

As I've gotten older and become an adult, Christmas has changed. My grandparents have gone to be with the Lord, my sister has her own Christmas where she lives and a few years I have had to worked on Christmas.

With all the changes that have gone on in my life Christmas is not the same for me. That isn't a bad thing, it is just what it is. Life changes. I'm just trying to decide what makes a good, jolly Christmas? I know that most of the answer lies in celebrating the true meaning of Christmas and choosing to have a good attitude, no matter who is with you.

I write this as I think of my friends that are in Iraq and Afghanistan, and my military spouse friends who have a loved one serving. To think that the person you love most is gone, in harm's way on this most familial of all holidays. Yet, many of these people still have a jolly Christmas, because of the attitude.

So in spite of the fact that I wish my sis and nephew were here, and that if I had my way Grandma and Grandpa were still here I plan on choosing to have a jolly Christmas and to make merry with those that I do get to see. I think the answer I want lies in taking advantage of the people I do get to spend the day with and focusing on the positives and not what is "missing".

So, no matter where you are, and what your Christmas looks like, may you too have a "holly, jolly Christmas this year!"

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